Sarasota Opera to Host National Finals of Schmidt Vocal Competition 

April 29, 2022 – Sarasota

Sarasota Opera is pleased to host the finals for Schmidt Vocal Arts (SVA) national Schmidt Vocal Competition at Sarasota Opera House June 3-5, 2022. The top three winners from each of 13 regional competitions will compete for the first national prize in the competition’s 25-year history. Seven Floridians have qualified after competing in four different regional locations. Distinguished judges for this competition are bass-baritone Eric Owens, Sarasota Opera General Director Richard Russell, and soprano Tamara Wilson. There will also be an alumni concert on June 4 that will feature SVA alumni Virginia Mims (from West Palm Beach, FL) and Aaron Crouch with pianist Brent Funderburk.

Tickets are available to various events of the Schmidt Vocal Competition on June 4 for $15 (Students: $10) and on June 5 for $25 (Students: $10) at SarasotaOpera.org or (941) 328-1300. Sarasota Opera is a participant in #SafeArtsSarasota and will be following appropriate health and safety guidelines. At the present time the wearing of a N95, KN95, or KF94 mask is recommended when attending events at the Sarasota Opera House. Health and Safety guidelines will be adjusted should conditions change. Visit SarasotaOpera.org for more information.

Sarasota Opera General Director Richard Russell says, “Introducing young people to the art of singing opera has been an important part of Sarasota Opera’s mission for almost 40 years. William E. Schmidt was a generous supporter of Sarasota Youth Opera which is why we are especially delighted to partner with Schmidt Vocal Arts on this inaugural event.”

Linda McAlister, SVA’s Executive Director explains, “After two years of online competitions, it is a breath of fresh air to hear these young singers live once again! We have had a great turnout at our live and online regional competitions, and it will be exciting to see and hear these teenagers perform on the stage of the William E. Schmidt Opera Theatre – just as Bill would have liked it. Schmidt Vocal Arts and I look forward to highlighting the talent of our singers into the future with the continuation of our National Competition.”

Funded by the William E. Schmidt Foundation, the Schmidt Vocal Competition is an annual event for U.S. high school students that sees 400+ singers compete each year – this season for more than $625K in cash awards and scholarships – just at the critical point in their early careers when they begin to look toward training on a professional level. The final, live regional competitions in the 2021-22 season were held in Tacoma, Chicago, and Boston. These and the other regional locations are selected with the goal of providing a central location for as many corners of the country as possible. Past competitors have been known to travel up to eight hours by car or take a short flight to get to the regional competitions, but SVA’s introduction of a virtual cohort, as well as the fact that the entire competition moved online last season because of the pandemic, have also opened up possibilities for singers from more rural areas, including some of the first singers from Alaska and Montana.

The milestone of SVA’s first national competition will take place over a long weekend, beginning with the Friday arrival of the semi-finalists in Sarasota and rehearsals with pianists. On Saturday are the semi-finals, heard by a panel of five judges. At an alumni concert that evening featuring SVA alumni Virginia Mims and Aaron Crouch with pianist Brent Funderburk, up to sixteen finalists will be announced for the finals round on Sunday, and four encouragement awards ($300) will be given to non-finalists, three of whom will also be invited to participate in a Sunday master class with soprano Judith Haddon, soprano Dr. Katherine Jolly, and tenor Stanford Olsen. Owens, Russell, and Wilson will judge the finals round and decide upon the First Place ($10,000), Second Place ($7,500), Third Place ($5,000), and Finalist ($650) Awards. A reception and awards ceremony wraps up the weekend on Sunday evening. Meet some of the young contestants here.

SVA’s support and resources continue long after the competition. The prize-winners are eligible for need-based scholarships to support their continued study at the university level, and SVA continues to have relationships with many alumni throughout their careers, providing educational, mentoring, and networking opportunities as well as grants for summer study. SVA recently launched an Undergraduate Awards initiative, building on the programs designed for high school students to create opportunities for college-level singers as well. Also, under the SVA umbrella are the Schmidt Vocal Institute (SVI), a two-week summer intensive training program established by McAlister in 2016, and its Vocal Artists Network, a roster of vocalists and vocal pianists/coaches boasting celebrated performers who are also dedicated teachers. The network includes such luminaries as Margo Garrett, Christine Goerke, Denyce Graves, Nathan Gunn, Craig Terry, Russell Thomas, Tamara Wilson, and many more, and from its ranks come competition judges, master clinicians, and guest faculty.

Here’s a video of alumni describing their experiences with the Schmidt Vocal Competition.

SCHMIDT VOCAL COMPETITION – Sarasota Opera House
Tickets: SarasotaOpera.org or (941) 328-1300

June 4, 2022, 10 a.m.
Semi-Final Competition
Tickets: $15 (Students: $10)

Singers from across the country will compete for a spot in Sunday’s Final Found. Semi-Final Adjudicators include mezzo-soprano Dr. Soon Cho, soprano Judith Haddon, soprano Dr. Katherine Jolly, tenor Stanford Olsen, and tenor Dr. Randall Umstead.

June 4, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
Alumni Concert
Tickets: $15 (Students: $10)

In celebration of 25 years of the Schmidt Vocal Competition, SVA alumni soprano Virginia Mims and tenor Aaron Crouch will present a recital of song, arias, and duets with pianist Brent Funderburk. The Finalists for the Schmidt Vocal Competition will be announced at the concert.

June 5, 2022, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Master Class / Final Round / Awards Ceremony
Tickets for all events that day: $25 (Students: $10)

Schmidt Vocal Arts Master Class (10:30 a.m.) – Three singers from the Semi-Final round will be chosen to sing in a master class with soprano Judith Haddon, soprano Dr. Katherine Jolly, and tenor Stanford Olsen.

Final Round of Schmidt Vocal Competition (1 p.m.) – Up to 16 Finalists will perform on the Sarasota Opera stage and compete for cash awards, including $10,000 for First Place, $7,500 for Second Place, and $5,000 for Third Place. The Final Round will be adjudicated by celebrity judges, bass-baritone Eric Owens, Sarasota Opera General Director Richard Russell, and soprano Tamara Wilson. An Awards Ceremony will follow after the judges deliberate.