We’re expanding! Schmidt Vocal Arts is excited to announce its first competition for undergraduate singers: The Schmidt Vocal Competition Undergraduate Awards. This online competition will be held in April and May 2021, culminating in an online master class and live-streamed awards ceremony on May 22, 2021.
SVC Undergraduate Awards will be structured differently from our high school competition and will feature FOUR WINNERS, each with a $5,000 cash award! Finalists will be awarded $500 and Encouragement Award Winners will receive $250.
Please read the rules carefully below! Apply as soon as you can after the applications open on March 1, 2021 at noon EST. The first round is open on a first come, first served basis.
Timeline
| March 1 12pm |
Applications open with a $25 application fee. A maximum of 110 singers will be accepted into the first round on a first come, first served basis. After the maximum number of singers is reached, you may apply for the waitlist. |
|---|---|
|
April 13 10pm |
Round 1 Application/Submission Deadline at 10 pm EST(see requirements below) |
| May 1 | Announcement of Round 2 Singers (up to 35) |
|
May 10 10pm |
Round 2 Submission Deadline 10pm ET (see requirements below) |
| May 22 | Online Master Class/Live-Streamed Awards Ceremony starting at 5pm ET. |
Eligibility
- Singers must be currently enrolled in an accredited university, pursuing an undergraduate degree, majoring in either voice performance or music education, AND must not be older than 24 years old
- Singers must have a United States Social Security Number and must be United States citizens, Green Card holders, or have DACA approved status.
- Singers may only be named a WINNER of the Undergraduate Competition once in his/her/their career.
Please note that all Round 2 singers must be present at the online master class and awards ceremony. Singers not chosen for Round 2 are also welcome to attend.
Round 1 Requirements:
- Singers must complete the online application and upload a performance resume via our online portal.
- Singers’ current voice teachers must provide recommendation letters addressing vocal quality, work ethic, and career potential, emailed directly to competition@schmidtvocalarts.org.
- Singers must pay the $25 non-refundable application fee. For special financial consideration, please email competition@schmidtvocalarts.org.
- Singers may apply on March 1, 2021 and submit a video afterwards, but no later than April 13, 2021. All applications close on April 13, 2021 at 10:00pm ET.
- Singers will not receive written feedback from Round 1.
- Round 1 Video Submission:
-
Singers must submit a YouTube link of one (1) video selection. The video should be no more than 5 minutes in length and should include a spoken introduction of the singer name and selection only (no ages, current schools, or teachers). Cuts are allowed.
- The vocal selection must be from the classical vocal repertoire (opera, art song, oratorio, etc.).
- Singers must perform with piano accompaniment, but it may be either a live piano or a recorded track, unless the chosen piece is meant to be performed without accompaniment (i.e. “The Singer” by Michael Head). Orchestral or instrumental accompaniment tracks will NOT be accepted.
- No audio or video enhancement is allowed. Recordings should be one full take without video editing. (Clarification added 3/24: External microphones are allowed.)
- All selections must be performed by memory.
- Singers may use pieces that have been videotaped previously, as long as the recording was made within the past six months. If your previously recorded video does not have the introduction requirements listed above, please ensure you are using our standardized file naming.
- All videos files should follow the standardized file naming: Last Name_First Name_Title
- Video submissions will be via YouTube link. You may submit as a public or unlisted link. An unlisted link is not visible to the public without the specific link. Please do not send a private, password protected link as the adjudicators will not be able to access the videos. For instructions about how to upload to YouTube, please click HERE.
- SVA is not responsible for late or unsuccessful attempts to upload videos.
- Incomplete, corrupted, untimely or unintelligible videos will be disqualified.
- If for any reason a singer’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost or otherwise corrupted, singer’s sole remedy is to apply for next year’s competition, if eligible.
- SVA reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, which entries have satisfied the entry requirements.
- By entering, each singer represents and warrants that his/her/their entry is his/her/their own performance.
- Please make sure audio and video quality show you at your best!
Round 2 Requirements:
- 30-35 Round 2 Singers will be announced on May 1, 2021.
- Round 2 Video Submissions are due May 10, 2021.
-
Singers must submit YouTube links to two (2) video selections. The videos combined length should be no more than 8 minutes in length and should include a spoken introduction of the singer name and selection only (no ages, current schools, or teachers). One of the two links could be the same selection as Round 1. Cuts are allowed.
- The vocal selection must be from the classical vocal repertoire (opera, art song, oratorio, etc.).
- Singers must perform with piano accompaniment, but it may be either a live piano or a recorded track, unless the chosen piece is meant to be performed without accompaniment (i.e. “The Singer” by Michael Head). Orchestral or instrumental accompaniment tracks will NOT be accepted.
- No audio or video enhancement is allowed. Recordings should be one full take without video editing. (Clarification added 3/24: External microphones are allowed.)
- All selections must be performed by memory.
- Singers may use pieces that have been videotaped previously, as long as the recording was made within the past six months. If your previously recorded video does not have the introduction requirements listed above, please ensure you are using our standardized file naming.
- All videos files should follow the standardized file naming: Last Name_First Name_Title
- Video submissions will be via YouTube link. You may submit as a public or unlisted link. An unlisted link is not visible to the public without the specific link. Please do not send a private, password protected link as the adjudicators will not be able to access the videos. For instructions about how to upload to YouTube, please click HERE.
- SVA is not responsible for late or unsuccessful attempts to upload videos.
- Incomplete, corrupted, untimely or unintelligible videos will be disqualified.
- If for any reason a singer’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost or otherwise corrupted, singer’s sole remedy is to apply for next year’s competition, if eligible.
- SVA reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, which entries have satisfied the entry requirements.
- By entering, each singer represents and warrants that his/her/their entry is his/her/their own performance.
- Please make sure audio and video quality show you at your best!
- Written feedback from the adjudicators will be available to Round 2 singers.
- Round 2 singers are required to attend the online master class and live-streamed awards ceremony on May 22, 2021 from 5pm-6:45pm Eastern Time.
Adjudication Criteria:
Singers will be adjudicated on the following categories:
- Beauty of Voice
- Technical Skill
- Career Potential
- Musicality
- Presentation
- Accuracy (Notes, Diction, Rhythms)
Awards:
- Four (4) Winners – $5,000 each
- Up to Six (6) Finalists – $500 each
- Up to Two (2) Encouragement Awards – $250 each
Round 2 Judges & Master Class Clinicians
General Director,
Fort Worth Opera
Artistic Administrator,
Metropolitan Opera
Executive Director,
Sarasota Opera
If you have any questions regarding the SVC Undergraduate Awards, please contact competition@schmidtvocalarts.org.