The Barbera Foundation Presents
The Pasadena Vocal Competition 2023

Application Deadline: Friday, November 18 (midnight), 2022

Apply here

Semi-FINALists Announced: Thursday, December 15, 2022

PRIZES
Funded by the Pasadena Area Opera Trust

Over $25,000 in prizes will be given out to eight finalists with a first prize of $6,500.

SEMI-FINAL ROUND, Saturday, January 14, 2023 – 10:00 am-4:00pm

FINAL ROUND, Saturday, February 25, 2023 – 7:00pm

At San Marino Community Church, 1750 Virginia Road, San Marino, CA 91108

36Days

18Hours

52Minutes

55Seconds

RULES

1. A minimum of 30 semi-finalists will be selected based on: video submissions, bio and resume.
   
   
2. All applicants must be available all day on both the semi-final and final round dates, without exception.
   
   
3. Eight singers will be accepted for the final round to compete before a live audience.
   
   
4. The application is open to all classical singers between the ages of 22-32 as of February 25, 2023, who reside in the United States.

   *Previous First Prize winners of the Pasadena Vocal Competition are ineligible to compete.

5. Transportation to and from the semi-final round is the sole responsibility of the applicant. FINALISTS who reside out of town will receive hotel accommodation for both February 24th & 25th and airfare travel reimbursement up to $200. *Travel receipts will be required*
   
   
6. Repertoire Requirement of 4 selections: all selections must be sung in the original language of composition.        
   a.         One Italian aria
   b.         One English aria
   c.         One aria not in Italian or English
   d.         One Musical Theater Standard or a song from the Great American Songbook.
   
   

   We suggest a song by I. Berlin, G. Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein or any standard Musical Theater Composer.  We will also accept any operatic parody song such as ‘The Girl in 14 G’, ‘I’m glad I’m not a tenor’ or ‘Sexy Lady’ by Ben Moore. *Please contact our Artistic Director with ANY questions about repertoire for this final selection.  Please note that we are looking for a song and not an aria, and therefore Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ will not fulfill this requirement.

7. ALL EIGHT FINALISTS will perform a foreign language aria, an English aria and the Musical Theater selection in the Final Round. When planning your aria submissions, we suggest that you take into consideration that you will sing all three selections in a row, with the final selection being the Musical Theater song.
   
   
8. For the semi-final round, an accompanist is provided or you may bring your own.
   Artistic Director Catherine Miller will be the pianist for the final round.If you use our accompanist for the semi-final round, please provide a binder with all arias clearly marked, legible and double-sided. Please do not bring music in plastic page sleeves, anthologies or vocal scores.
   
   
9. For the semi-final round we require standard audition attire: tea length dresses for the ladies and dress shirts and pants for the gentlemen. Dress for the final round will be formal: tuxedos and gowns.
   
   
10. You will be asked to attach your current headshot, resume, bio and proof of COVID-19 vaccination on your application.
    
    
11. Rights to any Competition performance, whether broadcast, televised, recorded or filmed, belong to the Competition. No fee is payable on account of these performances or any recordings, broadcasts, transmissions or film.
    
    
12. ALL decisions of the judges will be final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding its decisions.
    
    

For questions and further information, please email our Applications Director: Mona Lands.

The Pasadena Vocal Competition is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability or religion.