Vocal Competition

The Italian Songs and Arias Vocal Competition for Michigan High School Students was started in 1995 and is held annually, in cooperation with the Italian American Club of Livonia, the IACL Charitable Foundation, and the Italian American Cultural Society of Clinton Township, alternately each year at their respective facilities. The event has earned a reputation as the state's top singing competition for high school classical and opera vocalists. Past winners and other finalists of our competition, such as soprano Caitlin Lynch (1998 First Prize Winner) who has already performed several times at New York's Metropolitan Opera and other major opera theaters, and tenor Tom Cilluffo (2015 Finalist), and baritones Jesus Murillo (2010 Finalist) who made his Met Opera debut in November 2022, and Logan Dell'Acqua (2014 Finalist) who debuted with the Detroit Opera in November 2022, Carlton Ford (2005 Winner), as well as sopranos Cree Carrico (2005 Finalist), and Kristine Overman (2014 Winner) to name a few, are now performing with opera companies in the USA and abroad.

In addition, the Verdi Opera also awards various financial prizes to assist voice students in furthering their studies in the USA and for their participation in study programs in Italy. Over $70,000 in prizes have already been awarded to students through the years. Several recipients of the Verdi Opera Prize are singing with various opera companies, and one, tenor Michael Fabiano, is now being acclaimed for his outstanding performances in leading roles at New York's Metropolitan Opera House and at Milan's La Scala as well as at other major opera theaters throughout the world.

"Spirate, pur spirate", a song by Stefano Donaudy
(Performed by a finalist of our 2009 vocal competition)

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The 29th Annual Italian Songs and Arias Vocal Competition
for Michigan High School Students


Please click on the links below to access the required forms or information.

LETTER TO MUSIC TEACHERS

ENTRY FORM and RULES OF COMPETITION
Please note that there are two pages to this file.

LIST OF SCHOOLS (entries received and number of finalists)

REPERTORY SAMPLE SHEET (listing of songs/arias & composers)

INFORMATIONAL FLYER (to be posted on school bulletin board)
To be printed on standard size paper (8.5" x 11")

POSTER
To be printed on legal size paper (8.5" x 14")

Entries must be postmarked no later than February 18, 2023.

Selection of the finalists for the competition will be completed in early March 2023. All participants will be notified of results in writing by March 20, 2023. The final competition will be in the form of a live concert, The Concert of the Finalists, with piano accompaniment, to be held at the Italian American Club of Livonia, 39200 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154, on Sunday, April 30, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Phone (734) 953-1106.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact John Zaretti at verdiopera@comcast.net.

Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan - Statue of Enrico Society is a public supported organization, exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501A of the Internal Revenue Code, as an organization described in section 501c3. Michigan number 784195. Federal number 38-2832282, letter 1045 (DO-CG)