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The American Prize in Vocal Performance
http://www.theamericanprize.org/opera.html
The American Prize in Vocal Performance (Opera/Operetta), 2010
Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award

The American Prize in Vocal Performance—Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award, honors the memory of the greatest Wagnerian baritone of his age, Friedrich Schorr, who commanded the operatic stage between the world wars, and his wife, Virginia Schorr, who taught studio voice at the Manhattan School of Music and the Hartt School of Music for nearly fifty years. The Prize recognizes and rewards the best performances by classically trained vocalists in America in 2010, based on submitted applications.

For more about Friedrich and Virginia Schorr and the long history of the Friedrich Schorr Memorial Performance Prize in Voice, click here.

Winning singers receive cash prizes and award certificates. Finalists receive certificates and written evaluations. Semi-finalists receive certificates. Finalists and winners are announced to local and national arts media and on our website, where winners are also profiled.

DOWNLOAD OPERA/OPERETTA APPLICATION HERE (PDF)
POSTMARK DEADLINE for application(s) extended to: November 15, 2010

OVERVIEW:
The American Prize in Vocal Performance—Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award is offered to men and women in two divisions: opera/operetta, and art song, with categories based on education and experience. There are no age limits. Applications may be made by the vocalists themselves, by teachers, colleagues, or other knowledgeable individuals. Singers may apply in the opera/operetta division, the art song division, or both.

In the Opera/Operetta division, the categories are:
1. professional (the vocalist has paid employment as a singer or singing teacher)
2. college/university—pre-professional (the vocalist is seriously pursuing a professional career as a singer)
3. amateur/community (the vocalist pursues music as a avocation)
4. gifted high-school-age vocalist

APPLICATION:
There is a single application form for The American Prize in Vocal Performance, Opera/Operetta division. On it, select the category which best identifies the applicant.
1. Send the completed application form by the deadline date.
2. Include two identical recordings of the applicant in performance, with the selections clearly indicated.
3. Be sure to sign the form and include the application fee.
4. Be sure to also email the required information.

The application fee is $35 per application. Make checks payable to HCMT/The American Prize. Application fees are nonrefundable. No incomplete applications will be accepted.

REQUIREMENTS for the RECORDING:

You need not prepare a special tape for The American Prize. A previous recording, whether of a concert made in front of an audience or one created in a recording session without an audience, is perfectly acceptable. Neither the location nor the repertoire of any qualified individual limits eligibility, provided the general guidelines listed below have been met. Excellence within categories is the primary criteria for the selection of finalists and winners.

The American Prize in Vocal Performance (opera/operetta division): no fewer than three and no more than 5 arias from the standard repertoire, sung in the original language, appropriate for the age, range and vocal “fach” (voice type) of the applicant. At least one aria on the recording must be in the English language originally (not a translation.) You must perform with a live accompanist. No unaccompanied performances, nor is the use of pre-recorded or computer generated accompaniments permissible. You may submit tapes from staged performances, if properly edited. Performers and works must be clearly identified on the disc, cover or video box. We prefer a DVD or VHS video of the applicant, but will accept CD audio recordings if no other format is available. No cassette tapes or other electronic media. There are no other restrictions. Please do not ask the judging panel to search for specific selections on the tape. They will listen from the beginning of the recording. No materials will be returned.

TIMELINE for this competition:

1. Deadline for postmark of applications: November 15, 2010. The application will be acknowledged by email upon receipt.
2. Announcement of semi-finalists: week of Decmeber 12, 2010
3. Announcement of finalists: week of January 10, 2011
4. Announcement of winners begins: week of March 17, 2011