The Louisville Bach Society is seeking well-rounded young singers, ages 18-32, with a special affinity for and appreciation of the vocal sacred and concert literature of the Baroque and Classical periods.

The initial round of this competition will be conducted by recordings sent by mail to Louisville. The application form, in printable pdf-format, is available here. The recording must accompany the application form and be postmarked no later than March 1, 2010.

Semi-finalists will be invited to Louisville for the second round of the competition to be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010. The top three competitors, as selected by that day’s judging, will sing in public concert on Saturday evening, after which final places will be determined and prizes awarded.

Prizes

First Prize $3,500
Second Prize $1,500
Third Prize $1,000

Required Repertoire

1. Two arias of your choice, appropriate to your voice part and
contrasting in style, from the sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach, and

2. One aria from any source by either W. A. Mozart or
Franz Joseph Haydn, and

3. One aria from the sacred works of G. F. Handel, excluding Messiah.

The same repertoire will be used at all levels of the competition.

Performances may be recorded on DVD, CD or audio cassette tape.

Accompanist

An accompanist will be provided for the semi-final and final rounds of the competition. Each competitor may schedule one hour rehearsal time with the accompanist on Thursday, May 13, or Friday, May 14.