05/21/2025
Thank you to all who participated in the 2025 George Shirley Vocal Competition. And a special thank you to the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance for your partnership and support. Here is the complete list of 2025 GSVC winners:
___International Division___
Giedrė Kisieliūtė, soprano, Florence, Tuscany, Italy
International student prize: $900 Sponsored by Videmus and Patrice Eaton
Gerald Franklin (St. Gerald), tenor, McGill University, Montreal Quebec, Canada
The Harry T. Burleigh Art Song Prize (International Division): $150
Sponsored by the Harry T. Burleigh Legacy Foundation
___Composers Division___
Ty Bloomfield, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Prize for a newly commissioned work: $1,500 Sponsored by Karen Slack
Brittney Benton, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Art Song Composition Prize: $1,000 Sponsored by Marquita Lister
___High School Division___
William Perkins, tenor, Detroit School of Arts, Detroit, MI
First Prize, High School Division: $1,000 Sponsored by Zingerman’s Community of Businesses
Danielle Douglas, soprano, Conestoga High School, Berwyn, PA
Second Prize, High School Division: $750 Sponsored by James and Bonnie Rose
Isabella Edmonds-Hogan, soprano, Finton High School, Finton, MI
Third Prize, High School Division: $500 Sponsored by Chauncey Packer
Caley Gracey, Alto, Avondale Senior High School, Auburn Hills, MI
Third Prize, High School Division: $500 Sponsored by Videmus
___Collegiate Division___
Tiara Abraham, soprano, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
First Prize, College Division: $4,000 Sponsored by anonymous donor
Joshua McMiller, baritone, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Second Prize, College Division: $2,500 Sponsored by Arthur White
Kayla Sconiers, mezzo soprano, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Third Prize, College Division: $1,500
Sponsored by Sylvia Holifield and siblings in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Talmage Turner
___Pre-Professional Division___
Justice Yates, baritone, New Haven, CT
First Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $5,000 Sponsored by Carrie Wilson
Sarah Rosales, soprano, Cedar Rapids, IA
Second Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $4,000
Sponsored by Louise Toppin in memory of Edgar and Antionette Toppin
Myah Paden, mezzo soprano, Seattle, WA
Third Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $3,000 In honor of James and Carole Rose
___Special Prizes___
Soprano Prize: $1,000 Sponsored by Myra Merritt
Sarah Rosales, soprano, Cedar Rapids, IA
Mezzo Soprano Prize: $1,000 Sponsored by Hilda Harris
Audrianna Hughes, mezzo soprano, Lexington, KY
Tenor Prize:
Ari Mandel, tenor, Morristown-Beard School, Morristown, NJ
High School: $200 Sponsored by Videmus
Jackson Hagood, tenor, Hope College
Collegiate: $500 Sponsored by Videmus
Bo Shimmin, tenor, Tucson, AZ
Pre-professional: $1,000 Sponsored by Carrie Wilson in honor of
George Shirley
Justin Bell, tenor, Jersey City, NJ
Pre-professional: $1,000 Sponsored by Videmus
Baritone Prize: Sponsored by James and Bonnie Rose in honor of Christal Rose
Jeremiah Sanders, baritone, Bloomington, IN
1st place, Pre-professional: $2,000
Joshua McMiller, baritone, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
2nd place, Collegiate: $1,000
Art Song Prize: $1,000 Sponsored by Willis Patterson
Joshua McMiller, baritone, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Sarah Rosales, soprano, Cedar Rapids, IA
Contemporary Art Song Prize for Pre-professional division:
Andrew Smith, bass-baritone, Washington, DC
Pre-professional: $500 Sponsored by Kenneth Overton
Contemporary Spiritual Prize for Pre-professional division
David Pelino, tenor, Washington, DC
Pre-professional: $500 Sponsored by Kenneth Overton
Operatic Aria Prize: $1,000 Sponsored by Patricia Miller
Justice Yates, baritone, New Haven, CT
Spiritual Prize:
Justice Yates, baritone, New Haven, CT
1st place, Pre-professional, $1,000 Sponsored by Robert Sims
Candace Williams, soprano, Cincinnati, OH
2nd place, Pre-professional $500 Sponsored by Patrice Eaton
Women Composers Prize: $1,000 Sponsored by Charsie R. Sawyer and Laura English Robinson
Myah Paden, mezzo soprano, Seattle, WA
Jay-Red-Koh Award for Mentorship: $1,000 Sponsored by Opera on Tap Rochester
Rodney Sharp, baritone, Fort Worth, TX
William Grant Still Operatic Aria/ Art Song Award:
Kayla Sconiers, mezzo-soprano, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Collegiate: $500 Sponsored by Black Leaders Arts Collective
Lwazi Dlamini, baritone, Dallas, TX
Pre-professional: $1,000 Sponsored by Black Leaders Arts Collective
The Harry T. Burleigh Art Song Prize Sponsored by the Harry T. Burleigh
Legacy Foundation
Candace Williams, soprano, Cincinnati, OH
Pre-professional: $1,000
Lazuli Clark, bass, University of Cincinnati
Collegiate: $500
Jaden Douglas, baritone, University of Michigan
Collegiate: $500
Isabella Edmonds-Hogan, soprano, Fenton High School, Fenton, MI
High School: $250
George and Gladys Shirley-Louise Toppin Award of Promise: $1,000
Sponsored by Washington Isaac Holmes
William Perkins, tenor, Detroit School of the Arts, Detroit, MI
Collaborative Piano Award: $1,000 Sponsored by Timothy Jones
John Morefield, Ann Arbor, MI
Detroit Music Association Scholarship for High School division:
William Perkins, tenor, Detroit School of the Arts, Detroit, MI
High School: $700 Sponsored by Detroit Music Association (DMA)
Evangeline Jarvi, mezzo-soprano, Grosse Pointe High School, Grosse Pointe
WD, MI
High School: $150 Sponsored by Detroit Music Association (DMA)
Nia’Rae Smith, soprano, Detroit School of the Arts, Detroit, MI
High School: $150 Sponsored by Detroit Music Association (DMA)
For a complete list of winners current and past, visit: https://smtd.umich.edu/george-shirley-competition/ -winners
