The 2024 Voice Competition has concluded. We thank all contributors, judges, participants and attendees for making this a memorable and sucessful event! We will return in 2026.
Winners of the Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera 32nd National Voice Competition
April 20, 2024, in Coral Gables, FL:
SENIOR DIVISION (age 26 - 30):
Anna Kelly, mezzo-soprano: First Prize (Junior Opera Guild)
Isobel Anthony, soprano: Second Prize (Charlette Seidel Award)
Kresley Figueroa, soprano: Third Prize (Judy George Memorial)
Luke Harnish, bass-baritone: Fourth Prize (Dr. Edward Russell Memorial, Albert Blackwell "Blackie" Stieglitz Memorial; Young Patronesses of the Opera - YPO)
Lisa Marie Rogali, mezzo-soprano: Fifth Prize (Renée and Marvin Fink Memorial)
Sarah Rachel Bacani, soprano (Kay Carpenter Memorial Award)
Matthew Soibelman, bass (Founder's Award)
JUNIOR DIVISION (age 20 - 25):
Luke Norvell, tenor: First Prize (Young Patronesses of the Opera - YPO
Maggie Kinabrew, soprano: Second Prize (Dr. Karl H. Muench Memorial)
Camille Robles, mezzo-soprano: Third Prize (Christopher Daniel Bobson Memorial)
Irene Patti Swartz Hammond Memorial Award to a Soprano: Sarah Rachel Bacani
Daniel Schwartz Memorial Musical Theater Award: Lisa Marie Rogali
Audience Favorite Award: Luke Norvell
Honorable Mention:
Natalie Corrigan
Giovanni Malcolm
Laura Miah
Maggie Reneé
Julia Swan Laird
WInona Martin
Eric Luis Viñas
Collaborative Pianists:
Anna Fateeva
Jared Peroune
Judges:
James Barbato, Acting General Director, Palm Beach Opera
Matt Cooksey, Director of Artistic Operations, Florida Grand Opera
Christopher Hahn, General Director, Pittsburgh Opera
Louis Otey, Founder and Artistic Director, Hudson Valley International Festival of the Voice
Maria Todaro, General Director, Florida Grand Opera
Our 2024 Voice Competition
The Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera Voice Competition takes place every two years, usually in the spring.
The Finals Concert took place on April 20, 2024, 1:30 pm, at the First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables, 536 Coral Way, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Memorial Funds
About the Voice Competition
The YPO/Florida Grand Opera voice competition takes place every two years and is open to opera singers who are residents of the United States. Singers compete in two divisions: Senior (ages 26 - 30) and Junior (ages 20 - 25). Approximately 15 to 20 singers are invited to participate in the semi-final round of the competition. Many of the participating singers are students or graduates of leading voice programs throughout the world and have significant performance experience as members of young artist programs.
Judges select up to 10 singers to advance to the final round. All participants in the final round win at least $1,000, with top prizes of $10,000 for the Senior division and $7,500 for the Junior division. The YPO Voice Competition Committee is responsible for reviewing applications, selecting the semifinalists and appointing qualified judges for the audition process. The award winners are selected after two days of live auditions.
You must be 30 or younger as of the application deadline (January 31, 2024). To apply, please CLICK HERE.
How it Began
The YPO Voice Competition was founded in 1972 by one of our founding members and retired soprano opera singer, the late Irene Patti Swartz Hammond. Since that time, YPO has assisted many young opera singers as they pursue their careers by awarding thousands of dollars in prize monies.
The financial assistance awarded may be applied to singers’ undergraduate or graduate education or for other expenses incurred in the pursuit of an operatic vocal career, such as role preparation, continuing vocal study, language study, publicity photos or other audition expenses.
In 1988 the Young Patronesses of the Opera, under its president, Renee Gross, joined forces with the Florida Grand Opera to create a prestigious, national, sought-after vocal competition. At present. former Voice Competition winners are performing in major opera houses throughout the world.
Scholarships & Grants
Auditions are held biennially, but scholarships may be awarded to previous winners during non-competition years depending on the progress of the winners in their opera careers and on their financial needs. Funds for the Voice Competition come from endowments, individual donations and the YPO annual budget.
YPO receives major support from the Junior Opera Guild and ongoing grants from Dr. and Mrs. Phillip George and the Marvin A. Fink Memorial, and is grateful for past grants from the Patricia Fuller Harrison Memorial and the Olsen Foundation.