George Shirley Vocal Competition
African American Vocal Repertoire
The George Shirley Vocal Competition: African American Vocal Repertoire (GSVC) is an annual competition held at the University of Michigan. The competition offers singers and composers the opportunity to work with and receive feedback from world-renowned judges, including George Shirley. More than $44,000 in prizes are awarded annually. The competition is open to singers ages 14-35 of all races and ethnicities and African American composers ages 18-35. There is no fee to apply for the 2025 competition.
The 15th annual GSVC semi-final and final rounds will be held on May 16-18, 2025 in the Earl V. Moore Building at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
COMPETITION INFORMATION
APPLY TO COMPETE
2025 Application Opening Soon
PAST WINNERS
About the Repertoire
The GSVC provides a platform for tomorrow’s musicians to honor the past while creating new relevance in the 21st century. African American music is an outgrowth of a rich oral tradition from the shores of Africa. When the music was melded with European compositional techniques, a unique body of work and musical expression was born. The repertoire was crafted by individuals who had a deep passion for expressing the world as they experienced it. The resulting repertoire is unique in its authenticity and passion, making it an important, living part of American history. It is an art form that deserves to be shared and preserved for future generations.
Snapshots from Recent Competitions
Click on the gallery to view photo captions.
About George Shirley
George Shirley’s illustrious career has spanned more than five decades and has included national and international recognitions. He has dedicated his life’s work to giving voice to the powerful African American vocal repertoire. Mr. Shirley’s vision provides the mission for the George Shirley Vocal Competition.
Song must reflect meaning, emotion, and truth. In order to successfully impart these elements to our audience in performance, we must already have secured our ability to do so without losing control of ourselves and being overcome by our emotions. In order to move our audience to the brink, we must be able to dip into our sea of experience without being inundated in the flood.
2024 Winners
With a historic number of applicants in 2024, we are proud of all who competed. Thank you for helping us honor, our founder, George Shirley on his 90th birthday by showing him his legacy in action. We want to congratulate all of the winners of this year’s competition cycle!
High School Division
- Drucilla Dumas, Mezzo-Soprano, Interlochen Arts Academy
First Prize, High School Division: $1,000
(Sponsored by Zingerman’s Community of Businesses) - Sloane O’Neill, Soprano, Grosse Pointe Woods
Second Prize, High School Division: $750
(Sponsored by several donors; including Ciluffo family) - Jillian Nixon, Mezzo-Soprano, Grosse Pointe Woods
Third Prize, High School Division: $600
(Sponsored by Chauncey Packer) - Hannah Mathew, Soprano, Washtenaw International High School
Encouragement Award, High School Division: $250
Collegiate Division
- Amber Rogers, Soprano, University of Michigan
First Prize, College Division: $4,000
(Sponsored by anonymous donor) - Mariah Graves, Soprano, Sam Houston State University
Second Prize, College Division: $2,500
(In honor of James and Carole Rose) - Jabari Lewis, Tenor, University of Michigan
Third Prize, College Division: $1,500
(Sponsored by Sylvia Turner Holified and siblings in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Talmage L. Turner) - Tiara Abraham, Soprano, Indiana University
Encouragement Award, Collegiate Division: $500 - Pelagia Pamel, Soprano, University of Michigan
Encouragement Award, Collegiate Division: $500
Pre-Professional Division
- Brianna Robinson, Soprano, Boston Lyric Opera – Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artist
First Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $5,000
(Sponsored by Carrie Wilson) - Sarah Rosales, Soprano, Des Moines Metro Opera, Frank R. Brownell, III Apprentice Artist Program
Second Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $4,000
(Sponsored by Louise Toppin in memory of Edgar and Antionette Toppin) - Wayne Arthur, Baritone, Boston University Opera Institute
Third Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $3,000
(In honor of James and Carole Rose)
International Division
- Brennan Alleyne, Tenor, Royal Northern College of Music
First Prize, International Division: $500
(Sponsored by Patrice Eaton) - Samuel Oloniyo, Baritone, The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON School of Music)
Second Prize, International Division $300
(Sponsored by Susan Ignasiak) - Merel-Magali Cox, Mezzo-Soprano, Royal Northern College of Music
Third Prize, International Division $200
(Sponsored by Videmus) - Simeon Hána, Baritone, Janáček Academy of Performing Arts
Encouragement Prize, International Division: $50
(Sponsored by Videmus) - Sophie Illiaifar, Mezzo-Soprano, Royal Northern College of Music
International Student Art Song Prize
(Sponsored by Susan Ignasiak: $100)
Composer's Division
- Jacob Lay, Career Professional, The Atlanta Opera
Art Song Composition Prize (for African American Composers): $1,000
(Sponsored by Marquita Lister) - Kaswanna Kanyinda (Apprentice Fort Worth Opera) and Brianna Ware-Boggs (DMA University of Wisconsin-Madison)
The Catherine Russell Composer Award: $2,500
For a newly commissioned work to premiere in Rochester, NY.
(Sponsored by Opera on Tap Rochester) - Sarah Rosales, Soprano, Des Moines Metro Opera, Frank R. Brownell, III Apprentice Artist Program
Prize for a newly commissioned work (awarded to a singer): $1,500
(Sponsored by Karen Slack)
Special Prizes
- Brianna Robinson, Soprano, Boston Lyric Opera – Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artist
Post-Graduate, Pre-Professional Division
Soprano Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Myra Merritt) - Paula Duva-Rodriguez, Mezzo-Soprano, Michigan State University
Masters, Pre-Professional Division
Mezzo Soprano Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Hilda Harris) - Dorian Dillard, III, Tenor, University of Michigan
Masters, Pre-Professional Division
Tenor Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Carrie Wilson in honor of George Shirley) - Joseph Parrish, Baritone, The Juilliard School
Artist Diploma student, Pre-Professional Division
Baritone Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by James and Bonnie Rose in honor of Christal Rose) - Paul Hill, Bass-baritone, Post-Graduate, University of Michigan
Honorable Mention, Pre-Professional Division: $500 (Sponsored by James and Bonnie Rose) - André Ferguson, Countertenor, Mississippi State University
Senior, Collegiate Division
Countertenor Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Darryl Taylor) - Colleen Beucher, Soprano, University of Michigan
Career Professional, Pre-Professional Division
Art Song Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Willis Patterson) - Makaela Shade-Alexander, Soprano, University of Houston
Career Professional, Pre-Professional Division
Art Song Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Willis Patterson) - Brianna Robinson, Soprano, Boston Lyric Opera – Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artist
Post-Graduate, Pre-Professional Division
Contemporary Art Song Prize for Pre-professional division (Composed after the year 2000): $500 (Sponsored by Kenneth Overton) - Wayne Arthur, Baritone, Boston University Opera Institute
Post-Graduate, Pre-Professional Division
Contemporary Spiritual Prize for Pre-professional division (Composed after the year 2000): $500 (Sponsored by Kenneth Overton) - Candace Williams, Soprano, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
Artist Diploma student, Pre-Professional Division
Operatic Aria Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Patricia Miller) - Brianna Robinson, Soprano, Boston Lyric Opera – Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artist
Post-Graduate, Pre-Professional Division
Spiritual Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Robert Sims) - Amber Rogers, Soprano, University of Michigan
Collegiate Division
Spiritual Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Robert Sims) - Jared Kellman-Medina, Baritone, University of Texas at San Antonio
Senior, Collegiate Division
Spiritual Prize: $500 (Sponsored by Patrice Eaton) - Mariah Graves, Soprano, Sam Houston State University
Collegiate Division
Women Composers Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Charsie R. Sawyer and Laura English Robinson) - Thalia Moore, Soprano, California State University Fullerton
Pre-Professional Division
The Jay-Red-Koh Encouragement Award for Self-Identifying LGBTQIA+ Singer: $1,000 (Sponsored by Opera on Tap Rochester) - Jadyn Riggs, Soprano, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
Senior, Collegiate Division
Terri Braxton Encouragement Award: $1,000 (Sponsored by Opera on Tap Rochester)
Show Your Support
Each year GSVC continues to advance its mission of encouraging the study of African American composition and vocal repertoire and fostering the talents of students of all ethnicities. With the help of donations from supporters such as you we hope to inspire the talents of the next generation of singers and composers. Support this year’s competition by making a gift today.
