Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition

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 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 in February and March are covered by Opera Naples.

Dates & Location

Application deadline: November 1, 2024

Competition Dates: January 16 - 18, 2025

Competition Location: Fort Myers, Florida

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. To apply, please email all materials listed above to competition@operanaples.org or apply on YAP Tracker. From these applications, approximately 20 singers will be invited to the live competition.

- 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)

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

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, FGCU

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