SOPRANO WINS OPERA CONTEST

Soprano Anita Mary Protich, 27, of La Crescenta, won first prize in the Metropolitan Opera Western Regional Auditions, held at USC.

Protich was awarded $3,750 in cash and a trip to New York, where the finals concert will be held in April. Ten singers selected from the winners of various regional auditions will sing in that event at the Met, and each will receive $5,000.

Second prize at USC was given to tenor Jorge Lopez Yanez, 26, of Northridge, a native of Mexico City. There was no third prize. The five remaining singers were each awarded $750.

Judges included Evelyn Lear (representing the Metropolitan Opera), Delia Rigal, Arthur Lief and Dorothy Warenskjold.