The George Shirley Vocal Competition is open to singers and composers of all races and ethnicities. This competition focuses solely on vocal compositions written for the recital or operatic stage by composers of African-American descent.

Deadline & Application Fee

The Application deadline is March 1, 2020. $50.00 Application Fee for all competitor divisions.
Note: There will be no pre-screening for competition.

Requirements for the Composition category (Ages 18-35)

Interested composers are asked to submit one recently composed art song written between 2018-2020 on the the text of your choice. Composers must be present or available via Skype 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 $30,000 in prizes will be awarded during the 2020 competition. For the composers division, competitors will compete for the top prize of: 

• Art Song Composition Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Marquita Lister
• Work to be added in The African Diapsora Music Project is a resource tools designed to assist our competitors locate original works by composers of the African Diaspora. All research associated with this project is owned and presented by Dr. Louise Toppin and Videmus.

Questions

For more information on the competition’s structure, prizes, and information on previous years’ winners, visit About the Competition.

The George Shirley Vocal Competition is open to singers and composers of all races and ethnicities. This competition focuses solely on vocal compositions written for the recital or operatic stage by composers of African-American descent.

Deadline & Application Fee

The Application deadline is March 1, 2020. $50.00 Application Fee for all competitor divisions.
Note: There will be no pre-screening for competition.

Requirements for the High School category (Ages 14-18)

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

• 1 Spiritual
• 1 African American Art Song
• 1 African American Art Song OR African American Operatic Aria

For each selection, you will need to provide the title, composer, key of composition, and a PDF of the song in the desired key in order to complete the application. Please have this information ready before beginning the application.

Competitor Resources

The African Diapsora Music Project is a resource tools designed to assist our competitors locate original works by composers of the African Diaspora. All research associated with this project is owned and presented by Dr. Louise Toppin and Videmus.

Prizes

More than $30,000 in prizes will be awarded during the 2020 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). 

Placement Prizes

• First Prize, High School Division: $1,000
  Sponsored by Zingerman’s Community of Businesses
• Second Prize, High School Division: $750
  Sponsored by The Links Incorporated, Ann Arbor (MI) Chapter
• Third Prize, High School Division: $500
  Sponsored by John M. Cilluffo

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 focuses on a special area of interest within the African American vocal repertoire. The special prizes for 2020 are:

• Spiritual Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Robert Sims
  
• Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Myra Merritt 
• Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by The City of Danville Virginia in honor of Camilla Williams
• Mezzo Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Hilda Harris
• Art Song Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Wills Patterson
• Baritone Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by James and Carole Rose in honor of Christal Rose
• Operatic Aria Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Patricia Miller
• Art Song Composition Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Marquita Lister
• Women Composers Prize: $500
  Sponsored by Charsie R. Sawyer

Questions

For more information on the competition’s structure, prizes, and information on previous years’ winners, visit About the Competition.

The George Shirley Vocal Competition is open to singers and composers of all races and ethnicities. This competition focuses solely on vocal compositions written for the recital or operatic stage by composers of African-American descent.

Deadline & Application Fee

The Application deadline is March 1, 2020. $50.00 Application Fee for all competitor divisions.
Note: There will be no pre-screening for competition.

Requirements for the Collegiate category (Ages 18-22)

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

• 1 Spiritual
• 1 African American Art Song
• 1 African American Art Song by a Female Composer
• 1 African American Art Song OR African American Operatic Aria

For each selection, you will need to provide the title, composer, key of composition, and a PDF of the song in the desired key in order to complete the application. Please have this information ready before beginning the application.

Competitor Resources

The African Diapsora Music Project is a resource tools designed to assist our competitors locate original works by composers of the African Diaspora. All research associated with this project is owned and presented by Dr. Louise Toppin and Videmus.

Prizes

More than $30,000 in prizes will be awarded during the 2020 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). 

Placement Prizes

• First Prize, College Division: $4,000
  Sponsored by Harold and Cherie Bridges Patrick
  in memory of Lynn Bridges
• Second Prize, College Division: $2,500
• Third Prize, College Division: $1,500

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 focuses on a special area of interest within the African American vocal repertoire. The special prizes for 2020 are:

• Spiritual Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Robert Sims
  
• Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Myra Merritt 
• Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by The City of Danville Virginia in honor of Camilla Williams
• Mezzo Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Hilda Harris
• Art Song Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Wills Patterson
• Baritone Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by James and Carole Rose in honor of Christal Rose
• Operatic Aria Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Patricia Miller
• Art Song Composition Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Marquita Lister
• Women Composers Prize: $500
  Sponsored by Charsie R. Sawyer

Questions

For more information on the competition’s structure, prizes, and information on previous years’ winners, visit About the Competition.

The George Shirley Vocal Competition is open to singers and composers of all races and ethnicities. This competition focuses solely on vocal compositions written for the recital or operatic stage by composers of African-American descent.

Deadline & Application Fee

The Application deadline is March 1, 2020. $50.00 Application Fee for all competitor divisions.
Note: There will be no pre-screening for competition.

Requirements for the Pre-Professional category (Ages 23-32)

Pre-professional vocalists are asked to prepare six or seven selections. At least 1 selection must be from the African diaspora. i.e. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Chevalier de Saint Georges, Carlos Gomes, Nathaniel Dett, Joshua Uzoigwe, or any other composer representing the diaspora outside of the United States.

• 2 Spirituals
• 3 Art Songs
• 1 African American Operatic Aria
• Optional Selection (African American Operatic Aria OR African American Art Songs)

For each selection, you will need to provide the title, composer, key of composition, and a PDF of the song in the desired key in order to complete the application. Please have this information ready before beginning the application.

Competitor Resources

The African Diapsora Music Project is a resource tools designed to assist our competitors locate original works by composers of the African Diaspora. All research associated with this project is owned and presented by Dr. Louise Toppin and Videmus.

Prizes

More than $30,000 in prizes will be awarded during the 2020 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). 

Placement Prizes

• First Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $5,000
  Sponsored by Anonymous Donor
• Second Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $4,000
  Sponsored by Louise Toppin in memory of Edgar and Antionette Toppin.
• Third Prize, Pre-Professional Division: $3,000
  Sponsored by James and Carole Rose

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 focuses on a special area of interest within the African American vocal repertoire. The special prizes for 2020 are:

• Spiritual Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Robert Sims
  
• Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Myra Merritt 
• Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by The City of Danville Virginia in honor of Camilla Williams
• Mezzo Soprano Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Hilda Harris
• Art Song Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Wills Patterson
• Baritone Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by James and Carole Rose in honor of Christal Rose
• Operatic Aria Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Patricia Miller
• Art Song Composition Prize: $1,000
  Sponsored by Marquita Lister
• Women Composers Prize: $500
  Sponsored by Charsie R. Sawyer

Questions

For more information on the competition’s structure, prizes, and information on previous years’ winners, visit About the Competition.