1. The application is open to all classical singers between the ages of 22-33 as of OCT 1, 2026, who reside in the United States. 8 Finalists and the winner of the Courtney B. Vance Chevalier Award (if not already selected as a Finalist) will be invited to compete on March 6, 2027 in Pasadena, CA in a live concert format. Up to 8 additional Career Grants will be awarded, but recipients will not be invited to perform at the Final Round

2. This year, the PVC will hold TWO live, semi-final rounds – one in New York City on January 8, 2027 and one in Pasadena, CA on January 16, 2027.

3. All applicants must be available to perform on Saturday, March 6 in Pasadena, CA (Finals Concert) and either January 8, 2027 in New York City OR January 16, 2027 in Pasadena, CA without exception. Do not apply if you are not available for a semi-final date and the Finals concert on March 6, 2027. Out of town performers will need to arrive to Pasadena, CA on March 5, 2027 and remain until March 7, 2027. Applicants will be notified of acceptance to the Semifinal Round no later than December 1st and the Final Round no later than January 18, 2027.

4. All out-of-town finalists will receive a travel reimbursement of up to $400, a ground transportation reimbursement of up to $150 and 2 nights accommodation. Travel receipts will be required. Travel, transportation, and accommodation arrangements will not be provided for the semifinal rounds.

5. Repertoire Requirement of 4 selections: all selections must be sung in the original language of composition.

   1. One Italian aria

   2. One English Aria

   3. One aria not in Italian or English

   4. One Musical Theater Standard or a song from the Great American Songbook.

      • We suggest a song by I. Berlin, G. Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein or any standard Musical Theater Composer.  We will also accept any operatic parody song such as ‘The Girl in 14G’, ‘I’m glad I’m not a tenor’ or ‘Sexy Lady’ by Ben Moore.

      • Please contact our Artistic Director with ANY questions about repertoire for this final selection.  Please note that we are looking for a song and not an aria, and therefore Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ will not fulfill this requirement.

6. All applicants are required to submit 2 videos only. It is not a requirement to submit an Aria by a composer of the African Diaspora. Songs within operas will be considered acceptable entries because they are considered musical numbers within an opera. However, ART SONGS will not be considered, the entry must come from an Opera.

7. All singers, regardless of ethnic identification are encouraged to submit an aria by a composer of the African Diaspora. We at the PVC are committed to educating audiences about the history of the Chevalier de Saint Georges, who was a composer of African ancestry whose historical significance has been marginalized; we therefore encourage all applicants to explore arias from his operas but also those of other composers, including, but not limited to: Scott Joplin, Terrence Blanchard, Nkeiru Okoye, Anthony Davis, William Grant Still, Francis Johnson, and Johanny Navarro.

8. ALL EIGHT FINALISTS will perform a foreign language aria, an English aria and the Musical Theater selection in the Semifinal and Final Rounds.

   • Please note that a time limit of 13 minutes for all three selections will be in effect for ALL live performances. Please plan accordingly; take all possible cuts in arias and try to submit a shorter musical theater selection.

9. You will be asked to attach your current headshot, resume, bio.

10.  Rights to any Competition performance, whether broadcast, televised, recorded or filmed, belong to the Competition. No fee is payable on account of these performances or any recordings, broadcasts, transmissions or film.

11. All decisions of the judges will be final.

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​For singers with questions about applying, please contact:

Mona Lands, Applications Director; monalands2@gmail.com

 

​For all other inquiries, please contact:

Catherine Miller, Artistic Director; catherine.miller@pasadenavocalcompetition.org