March 7, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — Joseph Shadday, a tenor and 2009 graduate of the DePauw University School of Music, placed third in the Grand Concours de Chant 2011. Shadday shares the $2,000 prize with baritone David Blalock. Presented by the Franco-American Vocal Academy, the finals of the competition took place Sunday, February 27, in Austin, Texas.
See Shadday and Blalock's winning performance on YouTube.
A vocal performance major at DePauw, Joe Shadday studied with Cassel Grubb University Professor Caroline Smith. After graduation, Shadday matriculated to the University of Maryland's 
prestigious Opera Studio program where he will graduate this May.
Shadday will return to Santa Fe Summer Festival with mainstage opera roles this summer after having been a part of that highly selective apprentice program last summer. Currently, he is singing Count Almaviva in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia at the University of Maryland.
While an undergraduate at DePauw, Shadday placed second in the Charles Lyman Vocal Competition, was a finalist in the National Opera Association's Young Artist Division Competition. He also sang leading tenor roles in Gianni Schicchi, The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus and The Abduction of Figaro. The tenor also has performed leading roles in summer programs such as Seagle Music Colony, La Lirica Musica, and College Light Opera Company.