Premiere Opera Foundation

12/31/2025

12/24/2025

✨ Here are the outstanding Virtual Winners of our 2025 Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition! ✨

We were deeply impressed by the artistry, preparation, and individuality demonstrated by these singers from around the world. While participating virtually via video, their voices and performances resonated strongly with our international jury. Congratulations to our Virtual Prize Winners and Finalists!

🏆 Virtual First Prize – $2,000
Vlada Koieva, Soprano, Ukraine


🏆 Virtual Second Prize – $1,500
Natasha Gesto, Soprano, Australia


🏆 Virtual Third Prize – $1,000
Giorgi Guliashvili, Tenor, Georgia


🏆 Virtual Premiere Grant – $500
Zuhao Chen, Baritone, Chinahao.chen

🏆 Virtual Premiere Grant – $500
Michelle Mariposa, Mezzo-Soprano, Philippines


🏆 Virtual Premiere Grant – $500
Luke Norvell, Tenor, USA


👏🏼 Finalist Honors
Jouelle Roberson, Soprano, USA
Emily Damasco, Soprano, USA
Natalie Corrigan, Mezzo-Soprano, USA
Jamal Al T**i, Baritone, Belarus / Canada
Edmond Rodriguez, Tenor, USA
Minseok David Kang, Bass, South Korea
Ilanna Starr, Mezzo-Soprano, Canada / USA
Fangzhen Wang, Mezzo-Soprano, China
Bronwyn Douglass, Soprano, Australia .douglass.soprano

We are proud to support these exceptional emerging artists and to recognize the global reach of today’s operatic talent. Participation in our Virtual Competition is more than a contest — it is a meaningful point of professional visibility and connection.

Our sincere thanks to our esteemed International Jury for their thoughtful evaluation, and to all of our supporters who continue to make this work possible.

12/23/2025

FINALS GUEST JURY | 9TH ANNUAL POFIVC

We were honored to welcome this distinguished group of Finals Guest Jurors, who joined our Core Jury live at Carnegie Hall for the Finals of the 9th Annual Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition.

Their presence brought additional artistic insight and professional perspective to the final round, offering our finalists the rare opportunity to perform before some of the field’s most respected leaders.

Finals Guest Jury:
Lawrence Brownlee
Jayme Burzette
Alyson Cambridge
Adam Cioffari
John Fisher
Priti Gandhi
Robert Lombardo
Mitchell Piper
Miloš Repický

Swipe → to meet the Finals Guest Jury

12/21/2025

CORE JURY — 2025 Premiere Opera Foundation
International Vocal Competition

Our Core Jury served as the principal adjudicating body of the 2025 Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition, evaluating all rounds and upholding the artistic standards, professional expectations, and long-term vision of the Foundation. Comprised of leading international casting professionals, artist managers, conductors, and institutional leaders, this panel played a vital role in identifying singers with the artistry, technique, and career readiness to succeed on today’s international stages.

We are deeply grateful to the distinguished members of our 2025 Core Jury for their time, insight, and commitment to the artists who participated this year:

• Mattia Campetti — Artist Manager, IMG Artists (Live & Virtual)

• Christian Firmbach — Intendant & Artistic Director, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe (Live & Virtual)

• Dominik Licht — Casting & Artistic Planning, Royal Danish Opera; Salzburg Easter Festival (Live & Virtual)

• Sofia Rukin — Artist Manager, TACT Artists Management (Live & Virtual)

• Eric Margiore — President & Founder, Premiere Opera Foundation (Live & Virtual)

• Megan Weston — General Director & Founder, Athena Music Foundation (Live & Virtual)

• Alan Fischer — Former Chair, Vocal Music & Opera, The Governor’s School for the Arts (Virtual Only)

• Xingwa Hao — Vice President & Vocal Consultant, Premiere Opera Foundation (Virtual Only)

• Chandler Johnson — Director, Apprentice Program for Singers, Santa Fe Opera (Virtual Only)

• Constantine Orbelian — Music Director & Chief Conductor, New York City Opera; Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra; Delos Records (Virtual Only)

Thank you for your dedication, generosity, and leadership in service of the next generation of artists.

12/20/2025

✨ Here are the incredible Live Winners of our 2025 Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition! ✨
It has been an absolute joy to witness these outstanding artists share their voices, artistry, and dedication on our stage at ! Congratulations to our Winners and Finalists!

🏆 The Premiere Grand Prize – $7,000
Tessa McQueen, Soprano, USA mcqueen

🏆 The Renata Scotto Prize – $5,000
Sophia Baete, Soprano, USA


🏆 The Dmitri Hvorostovsky Prize – $3,500
Juncan Zhu, Baritone, China


🏆 The Marcello Giordani Prize – $3,500
Matthew Sink, Tenor, USA


🏆 The Athena Music Foundation Prize – $2,500
Jamal Al T**i, Tenor, Belarus / Canada


🏆 The Dr. David DiChiera Encouragement Prize – $1,500
Jihye Jang, Soprano, South Korea

👏🏼 Finalist Honorarium – $500
Kresley Figueroa, Mezzo-Soprano, Puerto Rico
Chantal Gabrielle Freeman, Soprano, USA .gabrielle.freeman
Page Michels, United Kingdom / USA
Lindsay Martin, USA
Charles Styles, United Kingdom

We are honored to support these remarkable emerging artists and to welcome them into the Premiere Opera Foundation family. Thank you for your courage, commitment, and for letting your voices be heard.

Our sincere gratitude to our distinguished International Jury for their thoughtful adjudication, and to all of our supporters who make this work possible.

12/12/2025

✨ TONIGHT at Carnegie Hall! ✨
Join us for the 9th Annual Premiere Opera International Vocal Competition LIVE FINALS!

🌟 Featured Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Jamal Al T**i • Sophia Baete • Catherine Creed • Kresley Figueroa • Chantal Freeman • Jihye Jang • Lindsay Martin • Tessa McQueen • Page Michels • Matthew Sink • Charles Styles • Juncan Zhu

📍 Carnegie Hall
🎟️ Ticket Information:

Students: $15 at Carnegie Hall Box Office
Seniors: $25 at Carnegie Hall Box Office
Semi-Finalists: $15 at Carnegie Hall Box Office (mention: “I sang in the Premiere Opera Foundation Semi-Finals”)
15% off for ANYONE with code POF54236 (online or in person)

Link in bio!

Don’t miss this extraordinary evening of vocal artistry! 🎶
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12/02/2025

Opera needs its future voices—and together, we can lift them. 🎶✨

As we approach our 9th year, the Premiere Opera Foundation has awarded over $375,000 to emerging singers from 50+ countries. This December 12th at Carnegie Hall, we continue that mission by awarding $50,000+ in prizes at our International Vocal Competition Finals.

This , your impact is as simple as attending the Finals—your ticket directly supports the Foundation and the young artists shaping opera’s tomorrow.

🎟️ Get Tickets
❤️ Donate (if you can’t attend)

We’re honored to present special tribute prizes, including:
• Renata Scotto Prize – $5,000
• Marcello Giordani Prize – $5,000
• Dmitri Hvorostovsky Prize – $5,000

Every gift and every ticket helps sustain our programs and uplift the next generation of extraordinary artists. Thank you for supporting the voices creating a brighter future for opera. 💛

With heartfelt gratitude,
Eric Margiore
President & Founder
Premiere Opera Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 86-1236503)
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To learn more about POFIVC 2025 visit the link in our bio.
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11/27/2025

A Happy Thanksgiving to all our American family.

Today we give thanks for the extraordinary singers who inspire us with their courage, artistry, and devotion — and for the generous supporters whose belief in them allows us to fulfill our mission of preserving and protecting the operatic art form. Together, you lift voices, open doors, and help shape the future of opera. We are grateful for each of you.

11/26/2025

✨A rare chance to be heard for real ensemble fest position roles from a major German theater.✨

Through one audition, you can be considered for an exceptional range of professional opportunities — including for a for lyric baritone, character tenor, and lyric soprano, with roles from Die Zauberflöte, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and La Bohème.

These roles come directly from our casting directors as part of our international jury, all actively seeking artists for upcoming seasons.

If Germany’s fest system or major engagement pathways are part of your artistic goals, this is your moment to be heard by directors who can open those doors.

⏳ EXTENDED DEADLINES
⭐️ International Vocal Competition: November 28
⭐️ Professional Auditions Only: December 1

One audition.
Exclusive opportunities.
A direct path to international stages.

Apply now.
Link in bio or premiereoperafoundation.org

11/25/2025

This is your chance to sing live in NYC — one audition, and you’ll be considered for every role that’s right for you.

The Premiere Opera Foundation’s 2025 International Vocal Competition offers something no other audition does:
real casting needs from real global directors, all in one place, all listening for artists they can hire now and in upcoming seasons.

Swipe through to explore this year’s casting portfolio — Strauss, Wagner, Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, Donizetti — featuring principal roles and major opportunities across international stages.

One audition.
Global reach.
Career-defining potential.

⏳ EXTENDED DEADLINES
⭐️ International Vocal Competition: November 28
⭐️ Professional Casting Audition Only: December 1

If you’re ready to advance your career, this is the moment.

Apply now. Link in Bio or premiereoperafoundation.org