Opera San José, in association with Arts Management Services of San Francisco, presented the Fourth Annual Irene Dalis Vocal Competition on May 22, 2010, 7 p.m. at the California Theatre. At the conclusion of the West Coast Auditions for Singers, the ten best singers were chosen as the featured competition finalists. (Click here for list of finalists.)

The ten finalists competed for $50,000 in cash prizes: First prize ($15,000), second prize ($10,000) and third prize ($5,000.) In addition, a a $5,000 prize for Audience Favorite was selected by voting during the final intermission. A $1,000 Wagner Prize was awarded (if
there is  an appropriate competitor in this voice fach.) The remaining seven contenders received $2,000 each as Encouragement awards.

Judges for the competition were James Caraher, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Indianapolis Opera; Christina Scheppelmann, Director of Artistic Operations from Washington National Opera; and Lotfi Mansouri, former General Director of San Francisco Opera. Returning as accompanist for the vocal competition was pianist Daniel Lockert.

The Irene Dalis Vocal Competition is sponsored by the Irene Dalis Fund for Singers and

Performances are supported, in part,
by a Cultural Affairs grant from 
the City of San José

 

Presenting the Irene Dalis Vocal Competition Finalists!

L-R: Nova Safo, Kathryn Leemhuis, Jonathan Beyer, Kyungmook Yum, Jerett Gieseler, Lisa van der Ploeg,
Danielle Talamantes, Silas Elash, OSJ GD Irene Dalis, Betany Coffland, Michele Detwiler.