Competition Information

Structure for the 2026 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 a panel of renowned judges.
• Final Round: The judges will select semi-finalists and finalists from each division to compete in person at the University of Michigan, May 15-17, 2026.
• Winner’s Concert: The winners will be invited to perform at a concert on Sunday, May 17. Stay tuned for more information.

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 that will be used for both the preliminary and live rounds in the following categories:

• 1 Spiritual (video record)
• 1 African American Art Song (video record)
• 1 African American Art Song (additional song for live round)

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, after you upload the videos and their titles, you will need to submit only the title for the additional song for the live round. The repertoire recorded and presented for the preliminary round, must be the same as the repertoire presented in the live audition. No substitutions will be accepted after the application is submitted.

Requirements for the Collegiate category: Ages 18-22

Collegiate vocalists are asked to prepare four selections. Three recordings are for preliminary round judging and one additional selection for the live performance round(s). For the live performance round, the judges will select from among the four total prepared pieces for the competitor’s audition. No repertoire substitutions will be accepted after the application is submitted.

• 1 Spiritual (video record)
• 1 African American Art Song by a woman composer (video record)
• 1 African American Opera Aria OR African American Oratorio Aria OR 1 African American Art Song (video record)
• 1 additional African American Art Song (additional song for the live round)

As a part of your application, you will need to provide a video recording of 1 spiritual, 1 African American Art Song by a woman composer, and 1 African American Opera Aria, African American Oratorio Aria or African American Art Song. On the application, after you upload the videos and their titles, you will need to submit only the title for the additional song.

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

Pre-professional vocalists are asked to prepare six selections. Four recorded for preliminary round judging and two additional selections for the live performance round(s). For the live performance round, the judges will select from among the six total prepared pieces for the competitor’s audition. No repertoire substitutions will be accepted after the application is submitted.

• 1 Spiritual (video recorded)
• 1 African American Art Song woman composer (video recorded)
• 1 African American Art Song by a contemporary composer (piece written after 2000 or a living composer) (video recorded)
• 1 African American Opera Aria OR African American Oratorio Aria OR an African American Art song (video recorded)
• 2 African American or African Diasporic Art Songs (Additional for Live Round)

As a part of your application, you will need to provide a video recording of 1 Spiritual, 1 African American art song by a woman composer, 1 African American Art Song by a contemporary composer (piece written after 2000 or a living composer), 1 African American Opera Aria, Oratorio Aria, or an African American Art Song. On the application, after you upload the videos and their titles, you will need to submit only the titles for the additional songs for the live round.

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.) This year, we will have a live master class for international students in addition to the competition.

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

• 1 African American Art Song (video recorded)
• 1 African American Art Song by either an African American, African, or African Diaspora composer (video recorded)

As a part of your application, you will need to provide a video recording of your 2 song selections. The repertoire recorded and presented for the preliminary round must be the same as the repertoire presented in the live audition. No substitutions will be accepted after the application is submitted.

Requirements for the Composition category: Ages 18-35

This year’s competition will focus on a multi-cultural response to African American poetry. Interested composers of all ethnicities are asked to submit one recently composed art song written between 2021-2026 set to the text of an African American or African Diaspora poet. 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 AAC audio recording of your song
• a written statement about the text and creation of your song (max 2000 characters with spaces or 300 words)

Additional notes:

• Please do not submit a spiritual arrangement

Prizes

More than $48,000 in prizes will be awarded during the 2026 competition. Each year, 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

• First Prize, International Division: $1,000
  In Memory of Dr. and Mrs. Willis C. Patterson
• Second Prize, International Division: $500
  Sponsored by Patrice Eaton

Composition Prizes

• Art Song Composition Prize: $1,000
  A multi-cultural response to African American poetry
  Sponsored by Marquita Lister
• Prize for a newly commissioned work (awarded to a composer): $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 2026 are:

• Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Myra Merritt
• Mezzo Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Videmus in honor of Hilda Harris
• Tenor Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Carrie Brown in honor of George Shirley
• Countertenor Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Darryl Taylor
• Baritone Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by James and Bonnie Rose in honor of Christal Rose
• Art Song Prize: $1,000
  In Memory of Dr. and Mrs. Willis C. Patterson
  
• Operatic Aria Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Patricia Miller
• 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
  
• Detroit Music Association Scholarship for High School division: $700
  Sponsored by Detroit Music Association (DMA)
• Detroit Music Association Scholarship for High School division: $300
  Sponsored by Detroit Music Association (DMA)
  
• George and Gladys Shirley-Louise Toppin Award of Promise: $500
  Sponsored by Washington Isaac Holmes
  
• The Harry T. Burleigh Art Song Prize (Pre-Professional): $1,000
  Sponsored by the Harry T. Burleigh Legacy Foundation
• The Harry T. Burleigh Art Song Prize (Collegiate): $500
  Sponsored by the Harry T. Burleigh Legacy Foundation
• The Harry T. Burleigh Art Song Prize (High School): $250
  Sponsored by the Harry T. Burleigh Legacy Foundation
  
• The Harry T. Burleigh Art Song Prize (International): $250
  Sponsored by the Harry T. Burleigh Legacy Foundation
  
• Spiritual Prize (1st Place, Pre-Professional): $1,000
  Sponsored by Robert Sims
• Spiritual Prize (2nd Place, Pre-Professional): $500
  Sponsored by Patrice Eaton in memory of Patricia Eaton
• B.L.A.C. for Operatic Aria/ Art Song Award (Pre-Professional): $1,000
  Sponsored by BLAC: Black Leaders Arts Collective
• B.L.A.C. for Operatic Aria/ Art Song Award (Collegiate): $500
  Sponsored by BLAC: Black Leaders Arts Collective
  
• Women Composers Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Charsie R. Sawyer and Laura English Robinson
• Collaborative Pianist Award: $1,000
  Sponsored by Timothy Jones
• Willis C. Patterson and Christie Merrit Award: $1,000
  Sponsored by Washington Isaac Holmes