Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition

opera naples competition

The Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition supports the career growth of young opera singers by offering them the chance to be heard by industry professionals and compete for artistic contracts. The competition occurs in three rounds from January 16 through 18, 2025.

Applications are now open!

The Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition fosters the career development of promising young opera singers worldwide by providing a platform to be heard by a panel of industry professionals and compete for artistic contracts that will significantly further their careers.  This competition is a revival of the renowned Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, which was founded in 1981 and, at its height, had 1,500 applicants from over 25 countries.

Each winner will receive a minimum of $10,000 in contracts to perform roles and/or concerts with Opera Naples as well as other companies such as Florida Grand Opera, Teatro Bellas Artes Mexico City and Teatro Pavarotti Freni Modena Italia, within the next two seasons of the award.

In order to be a recipient of the prize, the winners should be available from February 24-March 2, 2025, in order to rehearse and perform in the 2025 Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars opening night concert on February 27, 2025 in Naples, FL and on March 1, 2025 with the Boca Raton Festival of the Arts in Boca Raton, FL. Travel and lodging expenses are covered by Opera Naples.

Dates & Location

  • Application deadline: November 1, 2024
  • Accepted contestants announced: November 15, 2024
  • Competition Dates: January 16 - 18, 2025 
  • Competition Location: U. Tobe Recital Hall, Bower School of Music & the Arts, Florida Gulf Coast University
    10501 FGCU Boulevard South, Bower School of Music, Fort Myers, FL 33965
    Winners Concerts: February 27 and March 1, 2025

Eligibility

Singers of all voice types up to the age of 32 who are pursuing a professional operatic career.

Application Process

Preliminary applications will be processed electronically through operanaples.org. An international panel of experts will select the competition participants from these submissions.

  • 2 video recordings of operatic arias made within the past year, which cannot be edited for sound or video enhancement. Videos may have live or pre-recorded piano or orchestral accompaniment.
  • Professional biography and resume in English (word or PDF format, one page maximum)
  • Headshot (high resolution)
  • Identification in the form of a passport, driver’s license or ID card

To apply, please email all materials listed above to competition@operanaples.org or apply on YAP Tracker here.

Competition

Selected singers will participate in three rounds of live performances for a jury taking place over the course of a three-day period between January 16 -18.  Each competitor is required to prepare a minimum of four arias in the language(s) of their choice; varying languages and styles are recommended.  A pianist will be provided. Competitors are responsible for their own travel, housing and local transportation. International competitors must supply their own visas.

  • 1st Round: Singers will present at least two aria selections not to exceed 10 minutes.
  • Semi-final: Singers will present two aria selections (different from the first round) not to exceed 12 minutes.
  • Final: Singers will present aria selections (previously performed selections are permitted) not to exceed 15 minutes.

Jury

The jury is presided over by Nicoletta Pavarotti and Ramón Tebar. Additional jury members include international singers, opera directors, casting directors, artistic directors and consultants of renowned opera houses:

  • Nicoletta Pavarotti, President of the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation
  • Ramón Tebar, Opera Naples Artistic and Music Director
  • Sherrill Milnes, Baritone and Director of the Savannah Music Festival
  • Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of Bower School of Music and the Arts, Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Bruce Ford, Tenor
  • John Churchwell, Head of Music of San Francisco Opera
  • Carrie-Ann Mattheson, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Opera Center, Adler Program and Merola Opera Program
  • Maria Katzarava, Soprano and Artistic Director of Teatro Bellas Artes, Mexico
  • Maria Todaro, General Director of Florida Grand Opera
  • Maria Zouves, Stage Director, Executive Director of the Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs
  • Louis Otey, Baritone
  • Dr. Jeanie Darnell, Head of Vocal Studies, Florida Gulf Coast University School of Music
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