Competition Details

When and where is the next competition? On Saturday 21 November 2009 at the First Unitarian Congregation, 30 Cleary Ave., Ottawa.

What are the prizes? The 1st prize is $5000, the 2nd prize $3000 and the 3rd prize, donated by Cav. Pasqualina Pat Adamo, $500. The other finalists receive a nominal stipend to help defray expenses.

Who may participate? Applicants must be between the ages of 20 and 32 on the day of the competition and be a native or minimum one-year resident of, or have studied singing in, the National Capital Region.

How does one apply? Prepare an application containing the following documentation and submit it to the address given on the Application Form. Your application package must contain:

The Application Form is available as a

PDF document
This document can be filled in electronically, but then it must be printed. Any information filled in will not be saved when the document is saved.
Word document
This document is set up as a Word form, so that it can be filled in electronically (all except for the signature), then printed and signed. It is in Word 97-2003 format, which means that it should be possible to use any version of Word from Word 97 onward (including Word 2007) to fill in the form.

When is the application deadline? The application package for the 2009 competition must be received by 1 Oct 2009.

What is the format of the Competition? A preliminary jury made up of three professional singers/musicians/educators will review all of the submissions and select up to six finalists. Notifications will be sent to all applicants and specific instructions will be enclosed for the short-listed finalists, who will be invited to perform at the public competition recital with their own accompanists. They may perform their submitted recorded selections or choose new ones. The vocal requirements remain the same: three operatic arias in their original language, at least one with recitative.

How is the winner of the Scholarship chosen? A different panel of three jurors, again professional singers/musicians/educators, will listen to the finalists, adjudicate and announce their decision at the conclusion of the competition.

Who are the jurors for the preliminary round of the 2009 competition?

Barbara Clark, Choral Conductor
Charlotte Stewart, Singing Teacher
Laurence Ewashko, Conductor and Choral Specialist

Who are the jurors for the final round of the 2009 competition?

Susan Blyth-Schofield, Professor of Music
Donna Brown, Soprano
Richard Turp, Teacher, writer and broadcaster
Biographies of the Jurors

For more information, contact the President or the Webmaster (see Contact page).

Conditions and Disclaimer

The following conditions apply to this competition:

  1. All recordings and applications submitted become the property of the National Capital Opera Society (NCOS).
  2. The decisions of the jurors are final.
  3. The NCOS is not responsible for any loss, damage or injury of any kind whatsoever arising out of the applicant’s participation in the competition.
  4. The applicant hereby waives all claims of any nature whatsoever against the NCOS arising out of the applicant’s participation in the competition.
  5. The NCOS may, at its sole discretion, cancel or postpone the final competition, with notice to the applicants.
  6. If, in the opinion of its advisory panels, the entries submitted are not of a suitable standard, the NCOS may, at its sole discretion, refuse to award the scholarship.
  7. The decision of the NCOS is final with respect to the question of whether an applicant meets the residency requirements.
  8. The NCOS is not responsible for any perceived defects in the recordings submitted. Applicants are advised to retain a back-up copy and to take suitable care to ensure that the recordings will withstand the rigours of the postal process.
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