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 competition is dedicated to providing singers of all ages and nationalities with the opportunity to audition and be heard by a distinguished jury of internationally recognized leaders in the opera world. The Semi-Final and Final rounds will be adjudicated by an esteemed panel that includes international casting directors, directors of prominent young artist programs, and renowned artist managers.
Open to singers of all nationalities with no age restrictions, the competition welcomes applicants of the highest artistic caliber.
At the discretion of the jury, cash prizes will be awarded to First, Second, and Third Place winners, with additional Encouragement Awards also under consideration. Semi-Finalists and Finalists will be eligible for professional development awards designed to support and advance their artistic careers.
Maya Barsacq – President
Sandra Bengochea – Secretary
Rebecca Davis – Treasurer
Susannah Biller Kness
Ronit Widmann Levy
Patrick Wilken
Sandra Hormozi
Boris Ignatov
Samuel Krum
David Lomeli
Rolando Garza Rodriguez
Barbara Bruser Clark
Jayne & Peter Davis
Patrick Wilken & David Dickson
John Herbert
Andrea & Frank Johnson
Bernice Lindstrom
Robert Mison
Karisa Parra
Terri and Bob Ryan
Bill Welch
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The 2026 Competition
FORMAT
The competition will have three rounds.
Qualifying Round: Video submissions of two contrasting arias (Recordings should reflect your current vocal ability, ideally recorded within the last year). 25 singers will be selected by our preliminary panel.
Semi-Final Round
The 25 selected singers will perform one aria of their choice for the Semi-Final panel of judges. Each performer will have 10 minutes to showcase their talent. If the first aria is under 5 minutes, singers are welcome to include a portion of a second aria. **No travel required! Perform from the comfort of your own home—or any location of your choosing.In-Person Finals in Vienna
The 8 singers selected from the Semi-Final round will perform two arias for the Finals panel. Performances will take place live in Vienna and will also be broadcast online, allowing audiences around the world to enjoy the finals.
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 Vienna Austria:
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.
Feedback sessions:
All semifinalists and finalists receive a complimentary 15-minute feedback session.
Singers who do not advance are welcome to schedule a feedback session for a $30 fee per 15-minute session.
DATES:
Qualifying round: Completed applications must be received by April 12, 2026
Semi-Finals online: Sunday April 26, 2026 17:00 CET
Finals in person in Vienna, Austria: Tuesday May 19, 2026 18:00 CET
**All finalists are required to attend the final event in person.
PRIZES & AWARDS
All finalists will be awarded a cash prize.
First: $4000
Second: $2000
Third: $1000
Finalists:$500 (** non placing finalists will receive an encouragement award )
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!you
Registration
**Please read carefully.**
To apply for the 2026 Zenith Opera Competition, please complete the form below and submit your full application fee. Incomplete applications or those without the full payment will not be considered.
The fee to apply is $65 US Dollars.
You can submit your application fee by:
Zelle:
web_host22@yahoo.com
Paypal:
zenithopera2@gmail.com
If you pay your registration via PayPal, the fee is $70 to cover PayPal transaction costs.
Other:
if you do not have Payapal please contact us.
Team Members
Jury
Maya Barsacq
Conductor, Composer, Vocal Coach & Zenith Opera Competition founder and co-director
Preliminary and Semi Finals rounds
Tibor Brouwer
KünstlerSekretariat am Gasteig
Senior Artist Manager
Semi Finals
Rebecca Davis
Soprano, CEO of SoftlyLoud Artist Consulting & Zenith Opera Competition co-director.
Preliminary and Semi Finals rounds
David Lomeli
Chief artistic officer at Santa Fe Opera, artistic coordinator at Dallas Opera & casting consultant at Bayerische Staatsoper
Semi Finals
Eitan Sorek
Sorek Artists
Artist Manager
Semi Finals
Matthew Broom
English National Opera
Casting Director
Finals
Carolin Wielpütz
Musik Theater an der Wien
Director of Artistic Administration
Finals
Veronique Walter
Hamburg Staatsoper
co Casting Director, and Director of Opernstudio
Finals
Michael Barobeck
Oper Graz
Artistic Operations Director
Finals
MEDIA SPONSOR
WITH THE CONTRIBUTION OF
Previous Editions
2025 Jury
Tibor Brouwer – Hilbert Artists Management
Matthew Broom – English National Opera
Eline De Kat – Opera de Monte Carlo
Anna Fauth – Harrison Parrott Group
Tobias Hasan – Staatsoper Unter den Linden
David Lomeli – Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Atlanta Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper
Cornelia Preissinger – Oper Leipzig
Brian Speck – New York Metropolitan Opera
Annette Weber – Hussain – Zurich Opera
2025 Winners
1st prize: Edith Grossman
2nd prize: Hyunkyum Kim
3rd prize: Sara LeMesh
Gregory Kunde Nova Award: Jared Werlein
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
Samuel 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
Samuel 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