All emerging singers interested in the repertoire of Handel are encouraged to audition for the Handel Aria Competition. The final round will be held on August 19, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin, and broadcast via livestream.
Application Deadline: May 15, 2022
Prizes
First prize: $2000
Second prize: $1500
Third prize: $1000
The 2022 first prize winner will also be invited to perform a recital in the spring of 2023 (or at a later date, pending COVID-19 status) in St. George’s, Handel’s parish church, as the guest of the London Handel Festival. The Handel Aria Competition will provide a $750 grant towards air fare.
Finalists will be asked to send the titles, English translations with the original language, and one copy of the arias and recitative to be performed at the competition finals by June 10, 2022. Please send the translations as a WORD document and the music as a PDF to: handelariacompetition@gmail.com
Use a good source for your music so it is historically correct. The Handel Gesellschaft edition is excellent, and is available in university and public libraries, or through the IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library.
Harpsichord & String Quartet Accompaniment
The Madison Bach Musicians will provide harpsichord and string quartet accompaniment for the final concert. The guest cellist will be Craig Trompeter, Artistic Director of Haymarket Opera in Chicago. Finalists will have an opportunity to rehearse before the competition. You must use the provided ensemble for the final competition. Please note there will be no wind players in the ensemble so repertoire for the final round should avoid arias with prominent wind obbligato parts. Competition pitch is A=415 Hz.
Auditions are open to all voice types. Minimum age is 18 years old and suggested age limit is 35 years old. Applicants over 35 will be considered on a case by case basis to determine whether their experience qualifies as emerging artist level. Past finalists are eligible to audition, with the exception of first prize winners.
More info can be found at https://handelariacompetition.org/application/
Applications for the preliminary round must be completed in entirety through YAP Tracker by May 15, 2022
Each singer will perform:
Preliminary Round
Judges will evaluate the recordings and choose seven finalists and one runner-up. Singers will be judged on historically-informed Baroque performance practice as well as overall musicianship and singing ability. Competitors who are selected to participate in the Finals will be notified by email no later than May 31, 2022. Should any of the chosen finalists be unable to sing in the final round, the runner-up will be invited to participate in the final round.
Final Round
The final round of the competition will take place on August 19, 2022. Rehearsals will take place at Grace Episcopal Church on August 17 and 18.
The competition will be heard before a panel of three judges in an event open to the public (with social distancing) and via livestream held at Grace Episcopal Church, 116 West Washington Ave, Madison, Wisconsin. Prize winners will be announced at the end of the evening, and a reception for all finalists will follow, pending the current COVID-19 status in Madison.
Final Round Judges
The judges for the final round of the 9th annual Handel Aria Competition to be announced.
Handel Aria Competition
P.O. Box 5554,
Madison, WI 53705
Travel/Lodging/Food
Finalists will be given up to $500 for travel to Madison (limited to actual expense)
Home stays will be available for out-of-town finalists. All CDC-recommended guidelines regarding COVID-19 mitigation will be strictly followed.
Finalists will be responsible for their own food expenses
If you have any questions please email Artistic Director Sarah Brailey at handelariacompetition@gmail.com
