Cooper Bott is heading to Northwestern University this fall, and he is arriving with some hardware in tow.
The baritone from Marengo, Iowa recently took First Place at the Fifth Annual Schmidt Vocal Arts National Vocal Competition, held May 30 and 31 at the Sarasota Opera House in Sarasota, Florida. Bott earned the top prize of $10,000 after performing a program that ranged from Mozart to Fauré to Rodgers and Hammerstein.
OperaWire spoke with Bott about his winning program, his path to classical singing, and what awaits him at the Bienen School of Music…