Lotte Lenya Competition

Lotte Lenya Competition A theater singing competition that emphasizes wide-ranging repertoire and the acting of songs and arias within a dramatic context.

Top prizes of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000. Sponsored by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music. In 1998, to honor the centenary of the birth of Lotte Lenya (1898-1981), an extraordinary singer/actress and one of the foremost interpreters of the music of her husband, Kurt Weill (1900-1950), the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music established an annual Lotte Lenya Competition. The Lotte Lenya Competition

is a theater singing contest that emphasizes wide-ranging repertoire and the acting of songs and arias within a dramatic context. The competition recognizes talented young singer/actors, aged 19-30, who are dramatically and musically convincing in repertoire ranging from opera/operetta to contemporary Broadway scores, with a focus on the works of Kurt Weill.

05/28/2026

“Disprezzata regina” from Monteverdi’s L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA is performed beautifully here by 2026 Lotte Lenya Competition top prizewinner . 🎶

Lila’s finals set also included “Mister Snow” from CAROUSEL, “Seeräuberjenny” from DIE DREIGROSCHENOPER, and “I Won’t Mind” by Blumenkrantz/Kessler/Saines. Head to the link in our bio or the ’s YouTube page to watch Lila’s full performance!

On May 9th, 2026, ten talented singer-actors delivered terrific performances in the 28th year of the Lotte Lenya Competi...
05/21/2026

On May 9th, 2026, ten talented singer-actors delivered terrific performances in the 28th year of the Lotte Lenya Competition Finals, with , and taking home the top prizes. ⭐️🏆✨🎶🎉

Disappointed to have missed the finals? The full video of Finals Day performances is available on the YouTube channel — just head to the link in our bio to find it! ⬆️

Announcing the winners of the 2026 Lenya Competition!1st Prize, $25,000: Lila Chrisp 2nd Prizes, $20,000 each: Claire Gr...
05/10/2026

Announcing the winners of the 2026 Lenya Competition!

1st Prize, $25,000: Lila Chrisp

2nd Prizes, $20,000 each: Claire Griffin and Ilanna Starr

Performance of Outstanding Opera/Operetta Selection, $6,000: Erik Grendahl

Award for Extraordinary Promise, $6,000: Matthew Dexter

Audience Choice Award, $3,000: Erik Grendahl

All remaining finalists receive $3,000.

Congratulations to all on an extraordinary day!!

05/08/2026

One of ten talented finalists, will perform live on the stage of Kilbourn Hall in Rochester, NY on May 9th! Here, she performs “Denn wie man sich bettet, so liegt man” from AUFSTIEG UND FALL DER STADT MAHAGONNY by Kurt Weill. Ilanna shares with us what she has learned about herself as an artist during the competition! ✨

Catch Ilanna’s finals performance this Saturday live or tune in to the livestream at kwf.org/2026-finals.

05/08/2026

performs “I Bought This Suitcase In New York” from FLIGHT by Jonathan Dove. ✈️ 🎶 Sadie is one of the 2026 Lenya Competition finalists competing for the top prize of $25,000 on May 9th.

At the 2026 finals, these ten talented singer-actors will each present a 15-minute program of four contrasting selections, before returning to the stage later that evening for a special concert of crowd-pleasers — the much-anticipated Audience Choice Award round!

Join us at Kilbourn Hall in Rochester, New York to hear all our finalists perform and help decide the Audience Choice Award winner. 🏆 Link in bio for more details.

05/07/2026

is one of ten spectacular singer actors who will take the stage of Kilbourn Hall in the finals of the 2026 Lenya Competition this Saturday! Here, she sings “I’d Give My Life For You” from MISS SAIGON by Schönberg/Boublil/Maltby.

Catch Gemma’s finals performance live on Saturday, May 9th at Kilbourn Hall in Rochester, NY or watch via livestream at kwf.org/2026-finals.

On Saturday afternoon, our finalists will each perform their set of four pieces. That evening, the Audience Choice Award showdown will begin, in which the finalists perform a collection of show-stoppers and crowd-pleasers, with the audience in the hall determining the winner of the $3,000 Audience Choice Award. 🏆

Head to the link in our bio to learn more about finals day events!

05/07/2026

“First You Dream” from Kander/Ebb’s STEEL PIER/FIRST YOU DREAM, sung here by .mehrotra 🎵✨

Hear Francesca perform live at the Lotte Lenya Competition Finals on May 9th at Kilbourn Hall in Rochester, NY! She is one of 10 talented finalists competing for the 1st prize of $25,000. In this reel, Francesca shares with us what she’s most excited for on finals day. 🎶

Check out our 2026 Finals page at the link in our bio for more details about the livestream info and event schedule for Saturday!

05/05/2026

HAPPY LOTTE LENYA FINALS WEEK to our ten fabulous finalists! 🎉🥳🎶

In one word, each of them described how they feel going into the finals — and the excitement is palpable! 🫶🏼

This Saturday, May 9th, these ten wonderful singer actors will take the stage of Kilbourn Hall in Rochester, NY, competing for the top prize of $25,000. Join us in-person or via livestream, and help determine the winner of the Audience Choice Award!

The finalists will perform:

🎵 One theatrical song by Kurt Weill

🎵 One Golden Age musical theater song written before 1968

🎵 One contemporary musical theater song written in or after 1968

🎵 One selection from an opera or operetta

Head to our link in bio for more details!

05/05/2026

.koumbaros performs “New York Lights” from A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE by William Bolcolm. 🎵

Stavros is one of the 2026 Lenya Competition finalists competing for the top prize of $25,000 this Saturday, May 9th. Keep watching to hear what Stavros has learned about himself as an artist during the competition.

The finalists will perform on the stage of Kilbourn Hall in Rochester, NY from 1-4 PM on Saturday. After the main competition concludes, at 7:30 PM the finalists will perform a special collection of show-stoppers and crowd-pleasers, with the audience in the hall determining the winner of the $3,000 Audience Choice Award. ✨🏆

Head to the link in our bio for this Saturday’s schedule of events! Attend the finals in person or via livestream at kwf.org/2026-finals.

05/04/2026

“Falling In Love With Love” from THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE by Rodgers and Hart, performed here by . In this reel, Claire shares her thoughts with us on what being a singer-actor means to her. 🎶

Watch Claire perform live in the 2026 Lenya Competition final round this Saturday, May 9th at 1:00 PM! Our ten fabulous finalists will each perform a set of four pieces:

🎵 One theatrical song by Kurt Weill

🎵 One Golden Age musical theater song written before 1968

🎵 One contemporary musical theater song written in or after 1968

🎵 One selection from an opera or operetta

Check out the link in our bio for more details and the schedule for Saturday! Join us in person or via livestream at kwf.org/2026-finals.

Address

7 E 20th Street
New York, NY
10003

Telephone

+12125055240

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lotte Lenya Competition posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share