2024 11th National Opera Competition

PARTNERS for the Arts, Inc.
2024 11th National Opera Competition

Open to singers ages 25 to 35 as of April 21, 2024

Prizes:

1st Prize – $10,000; 2nd Prize – $5,000; 3rd Prize – $2,500
Audience Choice Award – $1,000; Judges Special Award – $1,000
Finalists’ Travel Expenses – $500

Preliminaries and Semifinal rounds will be done virtually.

Final Round Live: April 21, 2024, Washington D.C.

Deadline for Application and video submission: 
February 19, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET (Eastern Time)

Early Submission of Applications is highly encouraged.

A panel of professional opera experts will judge the preliminaries,
Semifinals and Final rounds of the competition.
The decision of the judges is final.

We partner with Acceptd to host our applications. Create an account by visiting our Acceptd landing page to learn more and to begin an application.

Click Here

acceptd

$35 registration and handling fee paid to Acceptd. Applicants can apply for a waiver of this application fee by submitting financial documentation to Acceptd. Get more information from Acceptd Support Desk.

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Competition Requirements

  • Applicant must be between ages 25 and 35 as of April 21, 2024.
  • Past First-place PARTNERS competition winners are not eligible to apply.
  • Non-U.S. citizens must show proof of residency or proof of full-time enrollment
    in a university, college, or conservatory before being permitted to enter the
    competition.

Special notes: Taxes – W9 forms are required for prize winners.

YOU WILL BE JUDGED ON VOCAL QUALITY, COMMUNICATION OF TEXT AND ROLE INTERPRETATION.

Submit to Acceptd

  • Proof of age – copy of passport or driver’s license.
  • Headshot
  • 4 video recordings with 4 contrasting arias (no oratorio) by 4 different composers in 4 different languages (one must be English).

Arias should be performed in their original languages, and selections must not be edited; exceptions: accompaniment interludes and recitatives may be cut in the interest of time. Excessively long arias are not advised.

Résumé

  • Education and degrees earned.
  • Teachers, coaches, and conductors you’ve worked with.
  • Performances, including dates and places. Apprentice programs attended and awards received.

Video Recording

EACH VIDEO MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME, THE OPERA’S NAME, THE COMPOSER’S NAME, AND ARIA’S TITLE.

  • Recording must be done within one year of the application deadline without acoustic enhancement or amplification.
  • Each aria should be filmed/uploaded with no extra effects added, e.g., lip-synching, and recorded in one “take.”
  • A backing track of each aria should accompany all singing using those of your accompanist, a purchased recorded piano accompaniment, or a live pianist. Recordings of performances with orchestra are not accepted.
  • Using an external microphone will ensure higher audio quality.
  • Recommended: high-resolution videos made in well-lit space.
  • Smartphones or laptop recordings are acceptable (horizontal orientation is best)
  • Treat your video as a live competition and test your recording before submission.

UNDERSTAND THAT FAILURE TO FULFILL ALL REQUIREMENTS AS REQUESTED WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.