Long Leaf Opera National Vocal Competition

June 19, 2010

Chapel Hill, NC

1st Prize   $1,000*

2nd Prize    $500

3rd Prize    $250

*and a major role in an upcoming LLO production

The Long Leaf Opera National Vocal Competition is open to all singers ages twenty to thirty-five.

1. The application must be completed and signed by the applicant. The application form must be accompanied by a recording (CD only) of two arias or art songs.  The recording must be identified with your name and arias. In addition, the applicant must include a $25.00 application fee, two 8” x 10” headshots, a stamped-self addressed envelope, and proof of age, such as a copy of your driver’s license. Checks should be made payable to Long Leaf Opera. We also accept Master Card and Visa. All applications and materials become the property of Long Leaf Opera. The top three winners from the 2009 LLO National Vocal Competition are not eligible to apply.

2. Application Deadline: All materials must be postmarked by April 24, 2010. Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis and charged an additional fee of $25.00.

3. All CDs will be reviewed in the blind by a panel of judges. Ten finalists will then be invited to participate in the final rounds to be held at Christ Church in Southern Village, in Chapel Hill, NC, on June 19, 2010 beginning at 1:30 pm. Notification of all contestants will take place by May 14, 2010.

4. Finalists will be required to prepare four art songs or operatic arias from memory. Two of these must be originally written in English from the 20th or 21st century and two may be from the standard repertoire sung in the original language.

5. An accompanist will be provided at no charge to the finalists and you will be given time to rehearse on June 18, 2010. Finalists may bring their own accompanist at their own expense. You are responsible for furnishing a copy of the scores to the accompanist and these will be requested shortly following the selection of the finalists.

6. The final rounds will be held on June 19, 2010 at Christ Methodist Church in Southern Village, in Chapel Hill, NC, at 1:30 pm.  From the ten, five will be selected to continue to the final round, which will take place at the same venue at 7:30 pm. Following this round, the judges will make their decisions and prizes will be awarded. Also, while waiting for that decision, the five afternoon singers who were not selected as finalists will be asked to perform one aria of their choice for the evening audience.

7. All finalists are responsible for their own travel and housing expenses, but we will arrange an official competition hotel with reduced rates. There will be some patrons who will be able to house finalists, but these may be limited and we cannot promise housing to everyone. There will also be social events to which you and your friends and families will be invited.

10. The First Prize winner agrees to perform in an upcoming Long Leaf Opera Festival without fee. We will reimburse lodging and travel expenses.

For additional information, please contact Randolph Umberger, Executive and Artistic Executive Director, or Benjamin Keaton, Music Director, at longleafopera@aol.com or call 919-968-9595 between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm, M-F, Eastern Standard Time.