2019 Washington International Competition for Voice

Eligibility

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 32 (as of the date of the competition). Proof of age will be required. Applicants must not be under professional management. Previous first-prize winners of the competition and current students of the judges may not apply.

Prizes

• First Prize: $10,000
• Second Prize: $5,000
• Third Prize: $3,000
• Three Finalist Awards: $1,000
• Audience Prize: $1,000

Semifinals

May 25, 2019, at 9:30 am at George Washington University, in the Benjamin T. Rome Music Hall at 801 22nd Street, NW, in Room B-120

Finals

May 26, 2019, at 2 pm, at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater

Judges

The competition provides a superb jury, offering individual advice and feedback to all semifinalists. This year’s judges were Vinson Cole, Peter Kazaras, and Carol Vaness.

Official Accompanists

• Joy Schreier
• Wei-Han Wu

Preliminary Judges

• Robert Baker
• Kay Belich
• Christine Isley-Farmer
• Thomas Reilly

Housing

Local housing is offered to all semifinalists.

Performance Awards

Performance awards included solo appearances with the Avanti Orchestra, City Choir of Washington, Georgetown Chorale, New Dominion Chorale, and FMMC Chorale.

Application

Applications can be found at www.getacceptd.com/wic. Applications will be accepted from September 1, 2018, to February 15, 2019.

Required Repertoire

1. An oratorio aria by a composer of your choice
2. Two contrasting arias from the attached lists by voice type
3. Three French art songs from the 19th through 21st centuries
4. Three German art songs from the 19th through 21st centuries
5. Three art songs in English, including two by contemporary American composers (1900-present). Arrangements of earlier music, folk songs, and musical theater selections do not meet this requirement.

Please choose your operatic repertoire from this list. The Italian, German, French, and English languages must be represented in the repertoire.

Repertoire for Your Application Video—The videos submitted on your application must be chosen from your list of the above required repertoire, as follows:

1. An oratorio aria
2. An opera aria from the repertoire list
3. A French art song
4. A German art song
5. A song by an American composer 1900-present

Questions about repertoire should be sent to Leslie Luxemburg, Foundation Director, at wicstrings@gmail.com.

Contact

Further information about the competition and the application process is available from Katie Katinas, Competition Chair, at WICvoice2019@gmail.com.

Regulations and Instructions

• All selections must be performed from memory, both on the video and in the live auditions.
• No changes in repertoire permitted past the deadline date on February 15, 2019.
• A jury will review submissions and select approximately 16 semifinalists.
• All applicants will be notified of the results by mid-March.
• Semifinalists will be sent further instructions as needed.
• Due to IRS guidelines, award winners are required to provide their Social Security Number or appropriate Tax Identification Number at the competition.

Disclaimer

• The FMMC Foundation assumes no responsibility for actions of or injuries sustained by applicants or their escorts during their course of stay in the Washington, DC area.
• All contestants are responsible for transportation to and from Washington, DC.
• The decision of the judges is final and not to be disputed. No contact with the judges is permitted until after the results have been announced.
• The WIC reserves the right to use any recordings or photographs originated during the competitions, or any photographs or recordings provided by the contestants.