During HGO’s 2024-25 season, third-year Butler Studio artist Navasard Hakobyan performs the role of Schaunard in La bohème. Hakobyan won first place at HGO’s 2022 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. In 2023, he won 3rd Prize and the Don Plácido Domingo Ferrer Prize of Zarzuela at the Operalia World Opera Competition, and in 2024 was named a National Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. During HGO’s 2023-24 season, he performed as Sharpless in alternate cast performances in Madame Butterfly, and during the company’s 2022-23 season, he performed the roles of Baron Douphol in La traviata, Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, and Second Nazarene in Salome. Other roles during the 2023-24 season include his house and role debut as Gregorio in Romeo and Juliet with Dallas Opera, and his Carnegie Hall debut in a concert dedicated to Rachmaninoff’s 150th anniversary. Future seasons include a house debut with Semperoper Dresden, a solo concert in Prague, and more. In summer 2023 as a fellow at Music Academy of the West, Hakobyan performed the role of Marcello in La bohème. Notable prizes include the 2023 Marilyn Horne Song Competition at Music Academy of The West, a 2022 Sullivan Award, first prize at the 2023 Butler Opera International Voice Competition in Austin, first prize in the 2023 Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition, and third prize in the 2021 Jose Carreras Grand Prix International Competition. Hakobyan was a member of the young artist program at the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan, Armenia from 2018-23. He was named the 2019 winner of the President of the Republic of Armenia Youth Prize. He received his master’s degree at Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan.