Welcome to
ZENITH OPERA COMPETITION
About
The Zenith Opera Competition is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in operatic singing. The competition showcases the talents of singers that are in the prime and are looking for career enhancing exposure.
The goal is to give singers of all ages and nationalities the opportunity to audition – allowing them to be heard by a distinguished panel of internationally recognized professionals in the world of opera. The jury of the Semi Finals and Finals include international casting directors, young artist program directors, and artist managers.
The competition is open to singers of all nationalities.
There are no age restrictions for the applicants.
Singers of the highest caliber are encouraged to apply.
At the judges’ discretion, cash awards will be awarded to First, Second, and Third place winners; Encouragement Awards may also be given. Semi-Finalists and Finalists will be eligible to receive professional development awards.
The Competition
Semi Final Round:
Virtual: No travel required. Audition from your own home, or the location of your choosing
**Final Round**:
In person: Live in Berlin and broadcast online.
FORMAT
The competition will have three rounds.
- Qualifying round: video submissions of two (2) contrasting arias (Recordings should be reflective of current vocal ability – ideally less than one year old). 25 singers will be selected by our preliminary panel.
- Semi-Final round: Those 25 singers will sing one (1) aria of their choosing for our Semi-Final panel of judges. Each singer will get 10 minutes and may include part of a second aria, if their first aria is less than 5 minutes.
- Finals: 8 singers will be selected from the Semi-Final round to sing two (2) arias for our Finals panel. First, Second, and Third place will receive cash prizes, and all non placing finalists will receive an encouragement award of $500.
Accompaniment for Semi-Final:
Using a live pianist is encouraged. If that is not an option, using a backtrack will be acceptable.
Accompaniment for the final in Berlin, Germany:
A professional accompanist will be provided for the final round of the competition. All final contestants will have the time to rehearse before the competition with a collaborative artist.
What’s included for Semi-Finalists:
Private session to coordinate your technological setup for maximum quality.
An opportunity to be heard by agents, casting directors, esteemed conductors and opera singers. Access to professional development opportunities.
What’s included for all registered singers: 15 mn feedback session
DATES:
Qualifying round: Completed applications must be received by April 23, 2024
Semi-Finals online: Saturday May 4, 2024 17:00 CET
Finals in Berlin, Germany: Sunday May 26, 2024 18:00 CET
PRIZES & AWARDS
The top three finalists will be awarded a cash prize.
First: $3000
Second: $2000
Third: $1000
** non placing finalists will receive an encouragement award of $500.
Every finalist will receive a professional development opportunity, to be determined by the producers and the panel.
We are honored by your interest in our mission and are looking forward to hearing you sing!
Johanna Will – 2023 ZOC 2nd Prize Winner
David Lomeli – Chief artistic officer at Santa Fe Opera, artistic coordinator at Dallas Opera & casting consultant at Bayerische Staatsoper
“The Zenith Opera Competition was an amazing opportunity to be heard by an international panel of judges. I was able to sing for many respected US and European opera professionals. I am so grateful to have won this competition and am looking forward to planning my first European audition tour in the near future, thanks to the momentum, guidance, and connections provided by ZOC!” Veronique Filloux – 2022 1st Prize Winner
“I am so very honored and grateful to have been apart of the ZOC competition! It gave me the opportunity to sing for some of the highest casting directors in the business at a really good time of my career. Also, I am so grateful for the financial help they offered me. It blessed me at a time that I truly needed it as I was just leave my Young Artist Program and starting my career. Thank you so much ZOC!
” Blake Denson – 2022 ZOC 2nd Prize Winner
“It was an extreme pleasure to be a part of the inaugural year of the Zenith Competition. It was clear that the extraordinarily accommodating staff put much thought and consideration into how they organized each round, making the entire stretch of the competition run seamlessly for everyone involved. The jury was made up of highly regarded and established professionals in the field. I was also overjoyed to hear that us competitors were able to choose our own repertoire to sing throughout each round. This was a very uncommon perk that proved to ease nerves and make the participants’ experience very rewarding and enjoyable! It was an incredible experience – if you are thinking about applying, absolutely go for it!!” – Alexandra Razskazoff – 2021 ZOC 2nd Prize Winner
“It was a fantastic experience to sing for top level artistic directors from around the globe. Thank you to all the competition team for the incredible organization and constant support!” Fernando Cisneros – 2022 ZOC 3rd Prize Winner
“I extremely enjoyed my time as a contestant with the Zenith Opera Competition. I really felt welcomed and taken care off. ” Keymon Murrah – 2021 ZOC 3rd Prize Winner
“I loved the Zenith Opera Competition experience! I felt respected and valued by the competition administration and the panel of judges at every stage of the competition. I got feedback from the panelists who work at the highest level of our field as singers, agents, and casting directors. I made connections that have led to a number of auditions with major opera companies in the US. I strongly recommend participating in the Zenith Opera Competition.” Maureen Brabec – 2021 ZOC Finalist
Jury 2023
Qualifying Round
Semi Final Round
Finals
Chief artistic officer at Santa Fe Opera, artistic coordinator at Dallas Opera & casting consultant at Bayerische Staatsoper
Media Sponsor
Previous Editions
2024 Jury
Tibor Brouwer – Hilbert Artists Management
Alex Fernández – Teatro Nacional De Santiago
Tobias Hasan – Staatsoper unter den linden
Sandra Hormozi – Encompass Arts
Boris Ignatov – Staatsoper Stuttgart
David Lomeli – Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Atlanta Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper
Cornelia Preissinger – Oper Leizpzig
Brian Speck – New York Metropolitan Opera
2024 Winners
1st prize: Lila Dufy
2nd prize: Maya Yahav Gour
3rd prize: Emma McNairy
2023 Jury
Neil Barry Moss – Landestheater Coburg
Devere Burnett – IMG Artists
Khori Dastoor – Houston Grand Opera
Alex Fernández – Teatro Nacional De Santiago
Sandra Hormozi – Encompass Arts
Boris Ignatov – Staatsoper Stuttgart
Leticia Martin Ruiz – Gran Teatro del Liceu
David Lomeli – Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper
2023 Winners
1st prize: Megan Moore
2nd prize: Johanna Will
3rd prize: Thomas Glass
2022 Jury
Paul Hopper – New York Metropolitan Opera
Sandra Hormozi – Encompass Arts
Boris Ignatov – Staatsoper Stuttgart
David Krum – Robert Gilder & co.
Leticia Martin Ruiz – Gran Teatro del Liceu
Joan Matabosch – Teatro Real de Madrid
David Lomeli – Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper
Cornelia Preissinger – Oper Leizpzig
2022 Winners
1st prize: Veronique Filloux
2nd prize: Blake Denson
3rd prize: Fernando Cisneros
2021 Jury
Sandra Hormozi – Encompass Arts
Boris Ignatov – Staatsoper Stuttgart
David Krum – Robert Gilder & co.
Gregory Kunde – Opera singer and conductor
David Lomeli – Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper
Christina Scheppelmann – Seattle Opera
Monika Thakkar – Opera San Jose
2021 Winners
1st prize: Kathryn Henry
2nd prize: Alexandra Razskazoff
3rd prize: Key’mon Murrah