2025 12th National Opera Competition

PARTNERS for the Arts, Inc. 2025 12th National Opera Competition

Deadline for application and video submission :
February 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET (Eastern Time)

$35 registration and handling fee paid to ACCEPTD (will add link once accepted page is live)

Applicants can apply for a waiver of this application fee by submitting financial documentation to Acceptd. Please visit the Acceptd Support Desk for more information.

Early Application submission is highly encouraged.

Competition Requirements

    • Applicant must be between ages 23 and 35 as of April 21, 2025.
    • 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.

To be submitted to Acceptd:

Résumé:

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

Also:

  • Proof of age – copy of passport or driver’s license.
  • Headshot
  • Three (3) video recordings (clearly indicating the applicant’s name, the opera’s title, the aria’s title, and the composer’s name) in three (3 ) languages (one must be English). No oratorio.
  • 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.

Special notes:
In some rare cases, the pianist may require singers to submit the music for some arias for the final round of the competition. If this is not done, we can refuse to use the aria.

Taxes – W9 forms are required for all finalists.

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

The decision of the judges is final.

Video Recording

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

  • 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.