Competition Information

Structure for the 2025 Competition

The GSVC will continue to be a multi-level competition, including three rounds: preliminary, semi-final, and finals. The preliminary round will be conducted virtually, while the semi-final and final rounds will be held in person.

• Preliminary Round: All entrants are invited to submit performances of selected repertoire in a preliminary round that will be reviewed by the judges.
• Final Round: The judges will select semi-finalists and finalists from each division to compete in person at the University of Michigan, May 16-18, 2025.
• Winner’s Concert: The winners will be invited to perform at a concert on Sunday, May 18. Stay tuned for more information.

In addition to the competition, we will have pre-recorded programming including masterclasses, a spirituals class, and discussions for the singers with internationally renowned artists.

Repertoire Requirements

• High School
• Collegiate
• Pre-Professional
• International
• Composition

Requirements for the High School category: Ages 14-18

High School Vocalists are asked to prepare three selections in the following categories:

• 1 Spiritual (video record)
• 2 African American Art Songs (video record 1 of 2)

As a part of your application, you will need to provide a video recording of 1 Spiritual and 1 African American Art Song. On the application you will submit only the title of the third additional piece.

Requirements for the Collegiate category: Ages 18-22

Collegiate vocalists are asked to prepare four selections in the following categories:

• 1 Spiritual (video record)
• 1 African American Opera Aria or African American Oratorio Aria or 1 African American Art Song (video record)
• 2 African American Art Songs

Two recordings are for preliminary round judging and two additional selections are for the live performance round(s). As a part of your application, you will need to provide a video recording of 1 spiritual and 1 African American Art Song or Aria. On the application you will submit the only titles of the additional two pieces.

Requirements for the Pre-Professional category: Ages 23-35

Pre-professional singers are asked to prepare six selections. Three recorded for preliminary round judging and three additional selections for the live performance round(s). If you do not have a contemporary art song among your three recorded selections, you may record a fourth that is your contemporary art song.

Note: Where “African American Art Song” is listed in the requirements, an African, African American or African Diasporic piece can be selected. Repertoire may also include an art song by a woman composer or by a contemporary composer (piece written after 2000 or a living composer).

• 1 Spiritual (video recorded)
• 1 African American Opera OR American American Oratorio Aria OR a African American Art song (video record 1)
• 1 African American woman composer (recorded)
• 1 Art Song by an African OR African Diaspora composer
• 2 African American Art Songs

As a part of your application, you will need to provide a video recording of 1 Spiritual, 1 African American Art Song, 1 African American Art Song, Opera Aria or Oratorio Aria. On the application you will submit the titles only for the additional three pieces.

Requirements for the International category: Ages 16-35*

*(If an international student is attending a US institution, you must compete in one of the other categories.)

International vocalists are asked to prepare two selections. One selection must be an African American composer, the other may be either an American American, African, or African diaspora composer.

• 2 African American Art Songs

As a part of your application, you will need to provide a video recording of 1 spiritual and 1 African American Art Song.

Requirements for the Composition category: Ages 18-35

Interested African American composers are asked to submit one recently composed art song written between 2023-2025 on the text of your choice. Composers must be present or available via Zoom during the competition. As a part of the application process, please include:

• a pdf of your song
• an mp3 or mp4 of your song
• a written statement about the text and creation of your song (max 2000 characters with spaces or 300 words)

Additional notes:

• Not required to be a text by an African American poet
• Please do not submit a spiritual arrangement

Prizes

More than $40,000 in prizes will be awarded during the 2025 competition. A 1st – 3rd place winner will be chosen from both the High School, College and Pre-professional divisions and each will be awarded a scholarship, ranging in value from $500 to $5,000. In addition, singers have an opportunity to compete for special prizes (see below).

International Student Placement prizes

• International student prizes (2): $500
  Sponsored by Susan Ignasiak, Louise Toppin, and Patrice Eaton

Composition Prizes for African-American Composers

• Art Song Composition Prize (for African American Composers): $1,000
  Sponsored by Marquita Lister

• The Catherine Russell Composer Award: $2,500 for a newly commissioned work to premiere in Rochester, NY.
  Sponsored by Opera on Tap Rochester
• Prize for a newly commissioned work (awarded to a singer): $1,500
  Sponsored by Karen Slack

Special Prizes

In addition to placement prizes, contestants will have the opportunity to be chosen as the recipient for additional scholarships. Most of the scholarships focus on a special area of interest within the African-American vocal repertoire. The special prizes for 2025 are:

• Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Myra Merritt
• Mezzo Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Hilda Harris
• Tenor Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Carrie Wilson in honor of George Shirley
• Baritone Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by James and Bonnie Rose in honor of Christal Rose
• Art Song Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Willis Patterson
• Contemporary Art Song Prize for Pre-professional division: $500
  Composed after the year 2000
  Sponsored by Kenneth Overton
• Contemporary Spiritual Prize for Pre-professional division: $500
  Composed after the year 2000
  Sponsored by Kenneth Overton
• Operatic Aria Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Patricia Miller
• Spiritual Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Robert Sims
• Spiritual Prize: $500
  Sponsored by Patrice Eaton
• Women Composers Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Charsie R. Sawyer and Laura English Robinson
• The Jay-Red-Koh Encouragement Award for Self Identify LGBTQIA+ Singer: $1,000
  Sponsored by Opera on Tap Rochester
• Dr. Terri Braxton Encouragement Award: $1,000
  Sponsored by Opera on Tap Rochester
• Detroit Music Association Scholarship for High School division: $750
  Sponsored by Detroit Music Association (DMA)
• Detroit Music Association Scholarship for High School division: $300
  Sponsored by Detroit Music Association (DMA)