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 $48,000 in prizes are awarded annually. The competition is open to singers ages 14-35 of all races and ethnicities and composers ages 18-35.
The 16th annual GSVC semi-final and final rounds will be held on May 15-17, 2026 in the Earl V. Moore Building at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
COMPETITION INFORMATION
APPLY TO COMPETE
Applications are closed.
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
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.
2026 Winners
High School Division
- Lindsay Martin Jr., tenor / Boston, MA
First Prize, High School Division: $1,000
(Sponsored by Zingerman’s Community of Businesses) - Felicia Abbass, soprano / Newark, NJ
Second Prize, High School Division: $750
(In Memory of Dr. & Mrs. Willis C. Patterson) - Thomas Prince, tenor / Detroit, MI
Third Prize, High School Division: $500
(Sponsored by Chauncey Packer) - Paula Casillas-Lopez, soprano / Ypsilanti, MI
Fourth Prize, High School Division: $250
(In Memory of Dr. & Mrs. Willis C. Patterson)
Collegiate Division
- Ella Vaughn, soprano / Oberlin, Ohio
First Prize, Collegiate Division: $4,000
(Sponsored by James and Bonnie Rose) - Elijah Gebers, baritone / Cazenovia, NY
Second Prize, Collegiate Division: $2,500
(Sponsored by Arthur White) - Nigel Swinson, bass / New York, NY
Third Prize (tie), Collegiate Division: $1,500
(Sponsored by Sylvia Holifield and siblings in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Talmage Turner) - Mira Grayton, mezzo soprano / Ann Arbor, MI
Third Prize (tie), Collegiate Division: $1,500
(Sponsored by Videmus)
Pre-Professional Division
- Justin Payne, tenor / Omaha, NE
First Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $5,000
(Sponsored by Carrie Brown) - Juliet Schlefer, soprano / Brooklyn, NY
Second Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $4,000
(Sponsored by Louise Toppin in memory of Edgar and Antionette Toppin) - Dorian McCall, bass / Chicago, IL
Third Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $3,000
(In honor of James and Carole Rose)
International Division
- Jack Morin, baritone / Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany
First Prize, International Division: $750
(In Memory of Dr. & Mrs. Willis C. Patterson) - Deborah Oboh, soprano / Festac Town, Lagos, Nigeria
Second Prize, International Division: $600
(Sponsored by Patrice Eaton) - Simeon Hàna, baritone / Pelhřimov, Kraj Vysočina, Czech Republic
Third Prize, International Division: $500
(Sponsored by Videmus)
Composer's Division
- Nailah Clarke / Melbourne, FL
Prize for a newly commissioned work: $1,500
(Sponsored by Karen Slack) - Che Buford / Brooklyn, NY
Art Song Composition Prize: $1,000
(Sponsored by Marquita Lister) - Christopher Armstrong / New York, NY
Encouragement Award: $500
(Sponsored by Videmus)
Special Prizes
- Soprano Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Myra Merritt)
- Juliet Schlefer, soprano / Brooklyn, NY
- Soprano Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Videmus)
- Angela Bonello, soprano / Royal Oak, MI
- Mezzo Soprano Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Hilda Harris)
- Kendra Beasley, mezzo soprano / Detroit, MI
- Tenor Prize: $1,000
- Brandon Hornsby-Selvin, tenor / Hicksville, NY
(Sponsored by Carrie Brown) - Justin Payne, tenor / Omaha, NE
(Sponsored by Videmus)
- Brandon Hornsby-Selvin, tenor / Hicksville, NY
- Encouragement Prize – Tenor: $100 (Sponsored by Videmus)
- Lindsay Martin Jr., tenor / Boston, MA
- William Perkins, tenor / Detroit, MI
- Countertenor Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Darryl Taylor)
- Weverton Santos, countertenor / Evanston, IL
- Baritone Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by James and Bonnie Rose in honor of Christal Rose)
- Lwazi Dlamini, baritone / Dallas, TX
- Solamada Pando Girard, baritone / Chicago, IL
- Bass-Baritone/ Bass Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Videmus)
- Dorian McCall, bass / Chicago, IL
- Encouragement Prize – Bass-Baritone: $100 (Sponsored by Videmus)
- Boheng Shen, tenor / New York, NY
- Art Song Prize: $1,000 (In Memory of Dr. & Mrs. Willis C. Patterson)
- Justin Payne, tenor / Omaha, NE
- Operatic Aria Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Patricia Miller)
- Justin Payne, tenor / Omaha, NE
- Encouragement Prize – Operatic Aria: $500 (Sponsored by Videmus)
- Melanie Juniel, soprano / Glendale, CA
- Women Composers Art Song Prize: $1,000 (Sponsored by Charsie R. Sawyer and Laura English Robinson)
- Makinsey Rosser, soprano / Lansing, MI
- Collaborative Pianist Award: $1,000 (Sponsored by Timothy Jones)
- Taylor Flowers, collaborative pianist / Chelsea, MI
- Spiritual Prize:
- Tyrese Byrd, tenor / Ann Arbor, MI
1st place, Pre-professional, $1,000 (Sponsored by Robert Sims) - Makinsey Rosser, soprano / Lansing, MI
2nd place, Pre-professional, $500 (Sponsored by Patrice Eaton)
- Tyrese Byrd, tenor / Ann Arbor, MI
- B.L.A.C. for Art Song or Aria Award (Sponsored by BLAC: Black Leadership Arts Collective)
- Phoenix Miranda, soprano / East Lansing, MI
$1,000 - Modestina Call, soprano / Oxford, MI
$500
- Phoenix Miranda, soprano / East Lansing, MI
- The Harry T. Burleigh Art Song Prize (Sponsored by the Harry T. Burleigh Legacy Foundation)
- Dorian McCall, bass / Chicago, IL
$1,000 - Tyrese Byrd, tenor / Ann Arbor, MI
$1,000 - Modestina Call, soprano / Oxford, MI
$500 - William Perkins, tenor / Detroit, MI
$250 - Jack Morin, baritone / Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany
$250
- Dorian McCall, bass / Chicago, IL
- George and Gladys Shirley-Louise Toppin Award of Promise: $500 (Sponsored by Washington Isaac Holmes)
- Lindsay Martin Jr., tenor / Boston, MA
- Detroit Music Association Scholarship for High School division (Sponsored by Detroit Music Association (DMA))
- Laila Regular, soprano / Detroit, MI
1st place: $700 - Lana Lanzanas, soprano / Troy, MI
2nd place: $300
- Laila Regular, soprano / Detroit, MI
- Contemporary Art Song Prize for Pre-professional division: $500 (Sponsored by Kenneth Overton)
- Angela Bonello, soprano / Royal Oak, MI
- Contemporary Spiritual Prize for Pre-professional division: $500 (Sponsored by Kenneth Overton)
- Rayna Mia Campbell, soprano / Belleville, IL
Show Your Support
Each year GSVC continues to advance its mission of encouraging the study of African American vocal repertoire and composition 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.
GSVC Endowment Campaign
In order to sustain this prestigious competition in perpetuity, building the George Shirley Vocal Competition Endowment Fund is our top fundraising priority. This endowment will enable us to continue awarding over $48,000 in annual prizes, support our administrative structure, eliminate application fees, provide travel stipends, and bring the most renowned judges and instructors to campus.
Please consider supporting our fundraising goal on MaizeRaise, the official crowdfunding platform for the University of Michigan. Make a gift to the GSVC endowment campaign.