The George Shirley Vocal and Composer Competition focuses entirely on African-American Vocal Repertoire and is open to singers of all ethnicities. The composer’s competition is open to African-American composers. The competition offers singers and composers the opportunity to work with and receive feedback from world-renowned judges, including George Shirley. The 2024 semi-final and final rounds will be held in person at the University of Michigan, on May 17-19. The competition will be enforcing all COVID-19 protocols set by the University of Michigan and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. More than $65,000 in prizes will be awarded.
Deadline & Application Fee
The 2024 application deadline for all divisions has been extended to March 10, 2024. The application fee for this competitor division is $50.
Requirements for the High School category (Ages 14-18)
High School Vocalists are asked to prepare two selections in the following categories:
- 1 Spiritual
- 1 African American Art Song
For each selection, you will need to provide the file name, which should include the title, composer, as submitted via georgeshirleycompetition.wetransfer.com in order to complete the application.
What you’ll need to complete the application:
- Repertoire Selections: Name, Composer, video file
- (Optional) Special Prize Eligibility: To be considered for the following prizes, you’ll need to meet additional requirements:
- Detroit Music Association (DMA) Scholarships: Must have previously participated and been awarded winners’ prizes from Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) Solo and Ensemble festivals.
- Jay-Red-Koh Encouragement Award for LGBTQIA+ singers: Submit a video of no more than 3 minutes or a written statement answering the following prompt:
“How can being courageous in our vast identities lend itself to the creation of the art that we hope to share with the world? What are some defining ways that you use your identity as a means of self-expression through your craft?
- Educator Referral: Name, Email, School
- Short Biography
- Headshot
- Application fee: $50 (paid via PayPal)
Structure for the 2024 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. For instructions on recording video performances, review the Recording Guidelines.
- Final Round: The judges will select semi-finalists and finalists from each division to compete in person at the University of Michigan, May 17-19.
- Winner’s Concert: The winners will be invited to perform at a concert on Sunday, May 19. The concert will also be live-streamed on Facebook. 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.
Instructions for Video Submission
Please follow these instructions carefully:
- Name your performance video files in the following format: “YOUR NAME_TITLE_COMPOSER” (ex: Louise Toppin_Hold Fast to Dreams_Florence Price.mp4)
- Go to georgeshirleycompetition.wetransfer.com
- Click “Add Your Files” to upload the video. You can upload multiple videos at once, or one at a time.
- Under “Your email,” add your email address. Please use the same email address as used in your application submission.
- Under “Message” you must include the following information:
- Title
- Composer
- Which repertoire requirement the piece is intended for
- Click “Transfer.”
NOTE: If you do not have a WeTransfer account, you will be asked to verify your email address. Please be sure to check your spam box.
Competitor Resources
- The African Diaspora Music Project is a resource tool designed to assist our competitors in identifying and locating original works by composers of the African Diaspora. All research associated with this project is owned and presented by Dr. Louise Toppin and Videmus.
- The Recording Guidelines provide detailed instructions and tips for capturing the best videos for submission to the competition.
Questions
For more information on the competition’s structure, prizes, and information on previous years’ winners, visit About the Competition.