Vocal Competition

Awards

Senior Vocal/Harvey division

For women-identifying singers aged 23-30.

1st Prize: Harvey Foundation Award, in honor of Lynne Cooper Harvey

  • $10,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

2nd Prize: Harvey Foundation Award, in honor of her sister, Virginia Cooper Maier

  • $7,500 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

*** A short 15-20 min performance is required at an MCW club concert (club concerts are held on the 3rd Monday of each month from 11am-12pm) as recipient of award. No additional remuneration is provided for this performance, however the club will pay for your collaborative pianist.

Junior Vocal Division

For women-identifying singers aged 18-22.

Edith Newfield Award

  • $5,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

Nerenberg Award

  • Up to $2,500 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

*** A short 15-20 min performance required at an MCW club concert (club concerts are held on the 3rd Monday of each month from 11am-12pm) as recipient of award. No additional remuneration is provided for this performance, however the club will pay for your collaborative pianist.

Farwell Trust Award(s)

Farwell awards are discretionary awards which may be given to singers in either division not awarded a Harvey, Newfield or Nerenberg award. Winners are determined as worthy of support by the judges as well as members of the Board of Directors. This award amount is flexible and will depend on the amount made available to MCW by the Farwell Trust. Winners will also receive 2 years of MCW membership and may be scheduled for an MCW-hosted public performance.

Carefully review the information about Demonstration of Financial Need in the Awards Information page. Submission of Demonstration of Financial need is required to win a Farwell award.

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Repertoire Guidelines:

VIDEO ROUND:

  • Pick two to three selections that meet the repertoire requirements stipulated below. One must be an aria, and one must be an art song.

  • Record each selection in its entirety. Join recordings together to make one submission link.

  • Audition videos are to be a minimum of 10 minutes, to a maximum of 15 minutes total in length.  Applicants are advised to take advantage of the allotment to demonstrate as broad a range of artistry, variety, and technical skill as possible.

  • Repertoire submitted for video round does not need to be the same as the live round as long as it meets the repertoire requirements.

LIVE ROUND:

  • Applicants should determine a list of repertoire that satisfies the requirements stipulated below.

  • No changes to repertoire lists will be allowed after application is received.

  • Judges will choose from candidates’ rep lists which selections they will hear during the audition window. Candidates will not be notified ahead of time which musical selections they will be asked to perform. However, you may choose your first selection.

  • All music shall be performed with accompaniment as applicable (orchestral reductions with cuts, etc. are acceptable), for all rounds of competition.

If applicants have any questions about whether their chosen repertoire satisfies the repertoire requirements, e-mail the Competition Director at scholarshipmcw@gmail.com well in advance of deadlines.

*** UPDATE 1/3/2025 Please note changes to repertoire below (in bold/underlined text)


Voice - Senior Vocal/Harvey Division

Repertoire list must be 4 selections that meet the following requirements:

  1. a French language song or aria from the BAROQUE, Classical, Romantic, or Modern era

  2. an English language song or aria from the BAROQUE, Classical, Romantic, or Modern era (may be a musical theatre selection)

  3. a German language song or aria from the BAROQUE, Classical, Romantic, or Modern era

  4. an Italian language song or aria from the BAROQUE, CLASSICAL, ROMANTIC, OR MODERN ERA

Additionally, the following criteria must be met by the chosen repertoire:

  • All repertoire must be memorized unless otherwise noted

  • At least one selection must be a complete operatic aria sung in the original language and key

  • At least one selection must be a complete oratorio or cantata aria sung in the original language and key (memorization not required)

  • At least one selection must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC

  • Works in Latin are not permitted per the requirements above which stipulate applicants may only submit 4(four) selections in the following languages: French, English, German, and Italian

Voice - Junior Vocal Division

Overall, the following criteria must be met by the chosen repertoire:

  1. Three or more selections from the list below, sung in their entirety, for a program totaling at least 10 minutes

  2. At least one selection must be in English

  3. At least one non-English language selection must be included

  4. At least one selection by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color) must be included

Choose from the following (memorization required unless otherwise specified):

  • Song in Italian from the 17th-19th centuries

  • Song in German

  • Song in French

  • Song in English (may be a musical theatre selection)

  • Operatic aria sung in the original language and key

  • Oratorio or cantata aria sung in the original language and key (memorization not required)

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Contact the Competition Director with any questions about meeting your repertoire requirements: scholarshipmcw@gmail.com