Young Patronesses of the Opera is proud to offer the opportunity to further the studies of aspiring young singers.

Our next competition will held on April 14-16, 2011 at the University of Miami's Gusman Hall. 

Our Voice Competition was founded in 1972 by one of our members and retired soprano opera singer, Irene Patti (Mrs. Irene Patti Swartz Hammond). Since that time, YPO has assisted many young opera singers as they pursue their careers by awarding thousands of dollars in prize monies. This financial assistance may be applied by singers to their undergraduate or graduate education or for other expenses incurred in the pursuit of an operatic vocal career, such as role preparation, continuing vocal study, language study, publicity photos, or other audition expenses.

In 1988 the Young Patronesses of the Opera, under its president, Renée Gross, joined forces with the Florida Grand Opera to create a truly prestigious national competition. The competition is advertised, and applications are available online and sent to opera young artist programs and major music schools. Due to the amount of funds available for awards, this has become a sought-after competition.

Singers entered this competition in one of two categories:

• Junior Young Artist (ages 20-25)
• Senior Young Artist (ages 26-30)
  Note: In past seasons, there have been different age divisions.

Our 2009 winners were:

Senior Grand Prize: Sidney Outlaw ($8,000 Junior Opera Guild Award and tied for Audience Favorite)

Senior First Prize: Aundie Marie Moore ($6,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award)

Senior Second Prize: Kevin Thompson ($5,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award and tied for Audience Favorite)

Senior Third Prize: Kathryn Leemhuis ($4,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award)

Senior Fourth Prize: Tyler Nelson ($2,500 Marvin Fink Memorial Award)

Honorable Mention: Jose Alvarez, Jeffrey Gwaltney, Susan Jean Hellman ($1,000 Companos/Balent Award; $1,000 Roman/Seidel Award; $1,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award)

Junior Grand Prize: Aleksey Bogdanov ($7,500 Junior Opera Guild Award)

Junior First Prize: Nadine Sierra ($5,000 Judy George Award)

Junior Second Prize: Katherine Lerner ($3,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award)

Junior Third Prize: Paul Scholten ($1,200 James T. Cullen, Jr., Memorial )

The Voice Competition Committee, chaired by Lucie Spieler, Renée Fink, and Charlette Seidel and Irene Hammond, was responsible for creating and reviewing applications and for reviewing recent CD's or audiotapes from which the semi-finalists are selected. The committee is also responsible for selecting highly qualified and recognized judges for the auditions. The award winners are selected through two days of live auditions.

Auditions are held biennially, but scholarships may be awarded to previous winners during non-competition years depending on the progress of the winners in their opera careers and on their financial needs. Funds for the Voice Competition come from endowments, individual donations, and the YPO annual budget. YPO receives major support from the Junior Opera Guild and ongoing grants from Dr. and Mrs. Phillip George and the Marvin A. Fink Memorial, and is grateful for past grants from the Patricia Fuller Harrison Memorial and the Olsen Foundation. At present former Voice Competition winners are performing in major opera houses throughout the world.

Application forms will be available here commencing in November, 2010.

Young Patronesses of the Opera is proud to offer the opportunity to further the studies of aspiring young singers.

Our next competition will held on April 14-16, 2011 at the University of Miami's Gusman Hall. 

Our Voice Competition was founded in 1972 by one of our members and retired soprano opera singer, Irene Patti (Mrs. Irene Patti Swartz Hammond). Since that time, YPO has assisted many young opera singers as they pursue their careers by awarding thousands of dollars in prize monies. This financial assistance may be applied by singers to their undergraduate or graduate education or for other expenses incurred in the pursuit of an operatic vocal career, such as role preparation, continuing vocal study, language study, publicity photos, or other audition expenses.

In 1988 the Young Patronesses of the Opera, under its president, Renée Gross, joined forces with the Florida Grand Opera to create a truly prestigious national competition. The competition is advertised, and applications are available online and sent to opera young artist programs and major music schools. Due to the amount of funds available for awards, this has become a sought-after competition.

Singers entered this competition in one of two categories:

• Junior Young Artist (ages 20-25)
• Senior Young Artist (ages 26-30)
  Note: In past seasons, there have been different age divisions.

Our 2009 winners were:

Senior Grand Prize: Sidney Outlaw ($8,000 Junior Opera Guild Award and tied for Audience Favorite)

Senior First Prize: Aundie Marie Moore ($6,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award)

Senior Second Prize: Kevin Thompson ($5,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award and tied for Audience Favorite)

Senior Third Prize: Kathryn Leemhuis ($4,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award)

Senior Fourth Prize: Tyler Nelson ($2,500 Marvin Fink Memorial Award)

Honorable Mention: Jose Alvarez, Jeffrey Gwaltney, Susan Jean Hellman ($1,000 Companos/Balent Award; $1,000 Roman/Seidel Award; $1,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award)

Junior Grand Prize: Aleksey Bogdanov ($7,500 Junior Opera Guild Award)

Junior First Prize: Nadine Sierra ($5,000 Judy George Award)

Junior Second Prize: Katherine Lerner ($3,000 Young Patronesses of the Opera Award)

Junior Third Prize: Paul Scholten ($1,200 James T. Cullen, Jr., Memorial )

The Voice Competition Committee, chaired by Lucie Spieler, Renée Fink, and Charlette Seidel and Irene Hammond, was responsible for creating and reviewing applications and for reviewing recent CD's or audiotapes from which the semi-finalists are selected. The committee is also responsible for selecting highly qualified and recognized judges for the auditions. The award winners are selected through two days of live auditions.

Auditions are held biennially, but scholarships may be awarded to previous winners during non-competition years depending on the progress of the winners in their opera careers and on their financial needs. Funds for the Voice Competition come from endowments, individual donations, and the YPO annual budget. YPO receives major support from the Junior Opera Guild and ongoing grants from Dr. and Mrs. Phillip George and the Marvin A. Fink Memorial, and is grateful for past grants from the Patricia Fuller Harrison Memorial and the Olsen Foundation. At present former Voice Competition winners are performing in major opera houses throughout the world.

Application forms will be available here commencing in November, 2010.