Dear students,

In the past week we have all experienced an upheaval that is unfathomable. The news we hear fluctuates daily and the situation appears to become more dire by the day. As music brings peace and solace in such times of uncertainty, I had hoped we could hold the 10th annual George Shirley competition May 15-17, 2020. Unfortunately, at this point I believe that to be unrealistic.

High School, College, and Pre-professional Vocal Divisions

After careful consideration, we have decided to cancel the vocal portion of the George Shirley Competition for 2020. The decision was reached after considering the following current information: 1) the latest news from the CDC which predicts at least another 8 weeks of contagion before the current conditions are abated, 2) the University of Michigan’s decision to close until after graduation – as our host institution, we cannot have the more than a few people gathered within a campus facility, and 3) our serious concern for the health of the singers (and all who support them) in the midst of this respiratory illness. Our highest priority is maintaining the health and wellness of our contestants, judges, staff, and volunteers, as well as to support the national directive of social distancing to decrease the impact on our healthcare system.

As a result, vocalists can expect the initiation of a full refund of the $50 application fee within the next 5 business days.

Composer’s Division

After much discussion with our sponsor and team, we have decided to move forward with the composer’s competition. This portion of the competition has been administered largely through video conferencing over the past few years, and we feel confident that we can continue in this vein, while remaining true to the vision and mission set by our sponsor. The sponsor is excited for us to move forward so we hope all of you will keep an eye out for this part of the competition which will take place virtually on May 16th (Details forthcoming soon).

We sincerely look forward to welcoming all singers and composers back for the 2021 competition. Please mark your calendars to apply by March 1, 2021 for next year’s competition to celebrate the official 10th year of the George Shirley Vocal Competition. Thank you all for your dedication to African American vocal music and we urge you to take the necessary precautions to remain safe and healthy. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at admin@georgeshirleycompetition.org.

See you virtually in May of 2020 and in person May of 2021!

Sincerely,

Louise Toppin

Dr. Louise Toppin
Co-Founder and Director, The George Shirley Competition

George Shirley
Founder