VOCAL COMPETITION
2022 AWARDS
1st Place: $6,000 Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, counter tenor
2nd Place: $4,000 Christian Pursell, baritone
3rd Place: $2,000 Edith Grossman, mezzo-soprano
4th through 11th Place: $500
Total prize money $16,000
FINALISTS 2022
We are thrilled to announce the 11 finalists of our 10th Annual Vocal Competition. We had 157 submissions on YAP Tracker making this our most competitive competition to date! It was so competitive that the judges could not limit the finalists to 10.
The 11 finalists in no particular order are sopranos Ariana Wehr and Amber Monroe, basses Anthony Reed and Brent Michael Smith, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, countertenor, Blake Denson, baritone, Christopher Oglesby, tenor, Christian Pursell, bass-baritone and mezzo-sopranos Edith Grossman, Lisa Marie Rogali and Ashlyn Brown.
Congratulations to all of the finalists who sang so beautifully!
Huge thanks to JIM COLLIER and PATRICIA AND LOUIS FRANKS who made this competition possible. Also huge thanks to our Judges Willene Gunn, Brava! Opera Artistic Director, Ellie Holt-Murray, soprano and Voice faculty at Southern Oregon University and Martin Majkut, Conductor and Music Director of the Rogue Valley Symphony and Queens Symphony.
The winners were announced on June 9, 2022
NATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION (VIRTUAL)
Due date May 5, 2022
The 10th annual National Brava! Opera Vocal Competition is a national competition that has been created to recognize and encourage promising young operatic talent. Previous winners have been hired to perform in southern Oregon concerts and in Brava! Opera's operas. Only singers aged 20 to 35 as of December, 2022 are allowed to enter the competition. Previous 1st place winners include tenors Jamez McCorkle, AJ Glueckert, Kyle van Schoonhoven, sopranos Julie Adams, Mary-Hollis Hundley, Maria Natale, Marina Boudart-Harris, mezzo-soprano Renée Rapier and bass-baritone Brad Walker.
APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED BY MAY 5, 2022
ON
AWARDS
1st Place: $6,000
2nd Place: $4,000
3rd Place: $2,000
4th through 10th Place (top ten finalists): $500
Total prize money $15,500
MATERIALS REQUIRED
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Two contrasting operatic arias as video files (different languages)
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Required non-refundable entry fee of $25.00 paid by credit card included with application
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Copy of legal proof of age (copy of birth certificate or passport). The competition is limited to U. S. citizens and those with green cards. Proof of citizenship and/or green card is required. Driver’s Licenses are NOT proof of citizenship or residency. Please provide copy of birth certificate or passport.
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Headshot
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Completed competition application form including signed “Statement of Understanding from Artist” form and acknowledgment of having read the rules prior to submitting the request to participate in the competition.
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Complete résumé listing the roles you have performed, companies, conductors and stage directors you have performed with, vocal coaches and voice teachers (current and past) and any young artist programs in which you have participated. Please limit to a one page PDF.
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Name, positions and contact information of at least two references in the field of opera
ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS
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The Brava! Opera Judges Panel will select 10 singers as finalists and the first, second and third place winners.
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The ten finalists videos will be posted on Brava! Opera's website and Facebook page by Thursday, June 2, 2022.
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The top three winners will be announced on Thursday, June 9, 2022
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The seven finalist singers will be paid electronically the week of June 9. Please provide your cell and email.
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The top three winners will be emailed a W-9 tax form to sign and return electronically, then will be paid electronically.
JUDGES PANEL
Willene Gunn ▪ Artistic Director, Brava! Opera Theater and James M. Collier Young Artist Program and former Director of the Opera Program at San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Ellie Holt-Murray ▪ soprano and voice instructor at Southern Oregon University
Martin Majkut ▪ Conductor Brava! Opera Theater, Music Director Rogue Valley Symphony and Queens Symphony Orchestra
STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING BY THE ARTIST
For the Brava! Opera and James M. Collier Vocal Competition: For Brava! Opera's National Vocal Competition: I have read and understood the rules for the competition. I understand that if I fail to adhere to the rules and regulations for the competition, I will be disqualified and there will be no recourse in being reconsidered. I have provided all necessary documentation about my citizenship or green card status and I have provided accurate information on my résumé. It is clearly understood that no one else may sign this form on my behalf. If I do not adhere to all of these requirements, it will automatically disqualify me from the competition and no refund of the application fee shall be made. I also understand that my audition videos will be posted on Brava! Opera's website and social media platforms.
Please contact Lorrie Hall at lorrie@bravaopera.com with any questions regarding this application. For technical help, please contact help@yaptracker.com.

