Vocal Competition

The Palm Springs Opera Guild VOCAL COMPETITION was held on December 2, 2023. Ninety-three singers from the western United States applied. Fifty-four moved through to the preliminary round and eight finalists were selected to compete in the finals held in Rancho Mirage, California.

Over $35,000 in cash scholarships awarded…

Produced by the Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert over the past forty, the Palm Springs Vocal Competition has awarded scholarships to hundreds of young men and women who are preparing for a career in the operatic arts. The finalists, selected through an auditioning process, perform before a live audience. The finals judges include professionals charged with discovering new talent for their opera productions.

 The 2023 Vocal Competition winner is Krista Renée Pape . Krista received a $10,000 cash scholarship. Watch for upcoming information about our next Palm Springs Opera Guild’s 41st Annual Vocal Competition set for December 7, 2024.

Stars Are Born…

Several finalists from past competitions have gone on to achieve significant success in their field. Vocal competitions like these enable emerging singers to perfect their craft and start to get recognition as they rise in the ranks of operatic performance. Several first-place winners are currently singing with major opera companies in such venues as Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, the New York Metropolitan, LA Opera, San Diego Opera, and Santa Fe Opera. Four of the most famous are performing regularly in opera companies around the world. Notable singers include soprano Sondra Radvanovsky; soprano Angela Meade; tenor Charles Castronovo; Lauren Michelle, soprano, Angel Blue, soprano, and soprano Amber Wagner.