Douglas Carpenter, Maren Weinberger, Alison Arnopp, and Lauren Roesner named winners of international theater singing contest

April 15, 2013: Douglas Carpenter, baritone, of New York, won the $15,000 First Prize in the finals of the 15th anniversary Lotte Lenya Competition, held on April 13, 2013, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Maren Weinberger, soprano, of New York, received the Second Prize of $10,000, and two Third Prizes of $7,500 each were awarded to Alison Arnopp, soprano, of County Cork, Ireland, and Lauren Roesner, soprano, of Cincinnati. Founded in 1998 to celebrate the centenary of Lenya's birth, the Lotte Lenya Competition is an international theater singing contest that recognizes talented young singer/actors, ages 19-32, who are dramatically and musically convincing in a wide range of repertoire.

Carpenter impressed the judges with a dynamic program that included "Pierrot's Tanzlied" from Korngold's Die tote Stadt and "Molasses to Rum" from the Sherman Edwards musical 1776. The other prize winners also presented exceptionally compelling performances of repertoire ranging from Donizetti and Gilbert & Sullivan to Weill, Loesser, Bernstein, Michael John LaChiusa, and Jeff Blumenkrantz.

This year's panel of judges included acclaimed soprano and 2010 Opera News Award winner Patricia Racette, British opera and musical theater conductor James Holmes, and Theodore S. Chapin, President of Rodgers & Hammerstein and Vice-Chairman of the American Theater Wing.

Chapin, who has judged the Competition eight times, said, "The Lenya Competition was founded to address a need for performers who can both sing and act. In the spirit of Kurt Weill, it bridges the gap between musical theater and a more serious kind of sung-through theater. It's the perfect way to do it, and it's been a wonderfully successful program."

The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, which sponsors the competition, distributed a record $61,500 in prizes this year. In addition to the top prizes, judges presented two Lys Symonette Awards of $3,000 each, named in honor of Kurt Weill's musical assistant on Broadway. For Outstanding Performance of an Individual Number, the awards went to soprano Rachel Kara Cordeiro-Pérez of Brooklyn, New York, for her performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Breathe" from In the Heights, and to mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson of Sandy, Utah, for her performance of "Alto's Lament" by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich. The remaining six finalists each received an award of $1,000: Daniel Berryman, tenor, of New York; Christian Ketter, tenor, of Chicago; Mingjie Lei, tenor, of Hengyang, China; Erin Mackey, soprano, of Astoria, New York; Heather Phillips, soprano, of Philadelphia; and Christy Sullivan, mezzo-soprano, of Sydney, Australia.

Each contestant presented a diverse program that included an aria from the opera or operetta repertoire; two songs from the American musical theater repertoire (one from the pre-1968 "Golden Age" and one from 1968 or later); and a theatrical selection by Kurt Weill. After a preliminary round of auditions, twenty-four semi-finalists from five continents auditioned in New York for adjudicator/coaches Jeanine Tesori and Rebecca Luker, who then selected the twelve finalists.

The Lenya Competition celebrated its 15th Anniversary this year. Since its inception, the Kurt Weill Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 to exceptionally talented young singer-actors, many of whom are enjoying prominent careers in musical theater, opera, and sometimes both. In the past year alone, previous winners' credits include performances on Broadway (Kyle Barisich, Morgan James); in national and international tours (Richard Todd Adams, Maria Failla, Zachary James, Ariela Morgenstern); at regional theaters such as Baltimore Centerstage, Westport Country Playhouse, and Portland Center Stage (Erik Liberman), The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park (Cooper Grodin), and Classic Stage Company (Amy Justman); and on major opera stages including the Metropolitan Opera (Paul Corona, Ginger Costa-Jackson), Los Angeles Opera (Rodell Rosel, Liam Bonner), Lyric Opera of Chicago (Rodell Rosel, Lucas Meachem), Florida Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Oper Leipzig (Jonathan Michie), Houston Grand Opera (Liam Bonner), New York City Opera (Lauren Worsham, Jennifer Goode Cooper), Glimmerglass Festival (Noah Stewart, Ginger Costa-Jackson), English National Opera and Teatro Real Madrid (Zachary James), Hamburg Staatsoper and Festival d'Aix-en-Provence (Rebecca Jo Loeb), and Oper Frankfurt (Elizabeth Reiter).

For a press photo of the winners, please click here.
Caption: 2013 Lotte Lenya Competition winners (left to right): Ginger Costa-Jackson, Rachel Kara Cordeiro-Pérez, Alison Arnopp, Douglas Carpenter, Lauren Roesner, and Maren Weinberger. Photo: Kurt Weill Foundation for Music.

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12 Finalists from Four Countries Selected; Theodore S. Chapin, James Holmes, and Patricia Racette Will Judge

March 19, 2013: Twelve exceptionally talented young singer-actors, with previous stage experience ranging from roles on Broadway to the Metropolitan Opera House, have been named finalists in the 2013 Lotte Lenya Competition. They will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Acclaimed soprano and 2010 Opera News Award winner Patricia Racette, British opera and musical theater conductor James Holmes, and Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization President and American Theater Wing Vice-Chairman Theodore S. Chapin will serve as judges.

Held annually by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music and celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the Lotte Lenya Competition is an international theater singing contest that recognizes talented young singer-actors, ages 19-32, who are dramatically and musically convincing in a wide range of repertoire, and emphasizes the acting of songs and arias within a dramatic context.

Finalists were selected from a group of twenty-four semi-finalists from the United States, Argentina, Australia, China, Germany, and Ireland after auditions in New York on March 15-16, 2013. Contestants were required to prepare four selections: an aria from the opera or operetta repertoire; two songs from the American musical theater repertoire (one from the pre-1968 "Golden Age" and one from 1968 or later); and a theatrical selection by Kurt Weill. Broadway leading lady and Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker and Tony Award nominee and Olivier Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori served as coach-adjudicators, evaluating and working with each of the semi-finalists.

The 2013 finalists are: Alison Arnopp, soprano (County Cork, Ireland); Daniel Berryman, tenor (New York); Douglas Carpenter, baritone (Woodbridge, Conn.); Ginger Costa-Jackson, mezzo-soprano (Sandy, Utah); Christian Ketter, tenor (Chicago); Mingjie Lei, tenor (Hengyang, China); Erin Mackey, soprano (Astoria, N.Y.); Rachel Kara Cordeiro-Pérez, soprano (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Heather Phillips, soprano (Philadelphia); Lauren Roesner, soprano (Cincinnati); Christy Sullivan, mezzo-soprano (Sydney, Australia); and Maren Weinberger, soprano (New York).

The finalists will perform their entire programs for the judges on April 13 between 11 am and 3 pm. At 8 pm, the competition will culminate in a concert featuring all of the finalists, followed by the announcement of the winners. Both the daytime finals and evening concert are free and open to the public, and will take place in Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, New York.

The Kurt Weill Foundation will award special prizes at the finals in addition to the top prizes, and has already presented Emerging Talent Awards to Cree Carrico, soprano (New York); Conor McDonald, baritone (Cincinnati); Sofia Selowsky, mezzo-soprano (Cincinnati); Brian Vu, baritone (New Haven, Conn.); Allan Washington, baritone (Winston-Salem, N.C.); and Katie Wesler, alto (Cincinnati). The Grace Keagy Award for Outstanding Vocal Promise went to Charles Z. Owen, bass-baritone, of Cincinnati.

Previous Lenya Competition winners are making their marks playing leading and featured roles in major theaters and opera houses around the globe. In the past year alone, their credits include performances on Broadway (Kyle Barisich, Morgan James), in national tours (Richard Todd Adams, Zachary James, Ariela Morgenstern), at Baltimore Centerstage, Westport Country Playhouse, and Portland Center Stage (Erik Liberman), The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park (Cooper Grodin), Classic Stage Company (Amy Justman), Metropolitan Opera (Paul Corona), New York City Opera (Lauren Worsham, Jennifer Goode Cooper), Los Angeles Opera (Rodell Rosel, Liam Bonner), Lyric Opera of Chicago (Rodell Rosel, Lucas Meachem), Florida Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Oper Leipzig (Jonathan Michie), Houston Grand Opera (Liam Bonner), Glimmerglass Festival (Noah Stewart), English National Opera and Teatro Real Madrid (Zachary James), Hamburg Staatsoper (Rebecca Jo Loeb), and Oper Frankfurt (Elizabeth Reiter).

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Funding will include works by Marc Blitzstein and a new mentorship program

January 16, 2013: The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music is pleased to announce the expansion of its Grant Program. In addition to existing categories funding performances of Weill’s musical works, scholarly research, and educational initiatives directly related to Weill and Lotte Lenya, financial support will now be awarded in the same categories for projects directly related to Marc Blitzstein, including performances of his musical works. This development is a result of the Foundation's receipt of a 50% share of Blitzstein's musical and literary estate, donated by Blitzstein's nephew Stephen Davis. Blitzstein is best known for his stage works Regina and The Cradle Will Rock and for his English adaptation of Weill and Brecht's The Threepenny Opera.

In the area of education, the Kurt Weill Foundation has added a new mentorship category to the Grant Program, entitled "Kurt Weill Mentors." Under this program, performing arts organizations and educational institutions may request financial support to engage performers, conductors, directors, and scholars who have been designated "Weill Mentors" by the Kurt Weill Foundation, to aid in the preparation of Weill or Blitzstein stage or concert performances, present workshops or lectures, or participate in scholarly symposia. Such requests may be considered even when the relevant performances would not otherwise be eligible for support under the Foundation’s grant program. Applicants should contact the Foundation for further information, and the Foundation will recommend appropriate Weill Mentors for specific projects.

Inquiries may be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Director.

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If you'd like more information about this topic, please contact Kate Chisholm at the Kurt Weill Foundation: (212) 505-5240 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

International theater-singing contest seeks exceptional young singer/actors for 15th anniversary competition

Top prize set at $15,000

September 10, 2012: The Lotte Lenya Competition, celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2013, seeks exceptionally talented young singer/actors who excel in a wide range of musical theater styles for the 2013 competition. Contestants will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500; total prizes awarded will exceed $50,000.

Established in 1998 by the Kurt Weill Foundation, the Lotte Lenya Competition is a unique international contest that bridges the worlds of opera/operetta and Broadway musical theater, following the example of Lenya's husband Kurt Weill, whose compositions spanned many genres. More than a vocal competition, the contest emphasizes the acting of songs and arias within a dramatic context and idiomatic singing of a broad range of theater repertoire.

The 2013 Lotte Lenya Competition is open to artists ages 19-32 born after December 31, 1980 and before January 1, 1994. Each contestant must submit a preliminary audition DVD by February 1, 2013. Those selected as semi-finalists will be invited to audition live in New York City on March 15-16, 2013. Competition finals will be held on April 13, 2013, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, USA. Finalists will each receive an award of $1,000, plus a stipend to offset travel costs to the finals.

Contestants must prepare a program of four selections: one selection from the opera or operetta repertoire; two songs from the American musical theater repertoire (one pre-1968 and one from 1968 or later); and a theatrical selection by Kurt Weill. They will be judged on their ability to interpret text and portray a character, along with stage presence, beauty of voice, and secure vocal technique.

A panel of distinguished musical theater and opera professionals will judge the competition. Past judges have included world-renowned soprano and actress Teresa Stratas; legendary director and producer Harold Prince; and Broadway leading ladies Victoria Clark and Rebecca Luker.

Previous winners perform regularly on Broadway, in regional theaters and international tours, and in major opera houses in the United States and Europe. Last season alone, they appeared in four Broadway shows; two national tours; regionally at Arena Stage, Centerstage, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Portland Center Stage, and The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park; and with the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Hamburg State Opera.

Further information and guidelines

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Weill's First American Stage Work Published in Full Score

June 20, 2012: The Kurt Weill Edition has just released its latest volume, Johnny Johnson (Series I, Volume 13), edited by musicologist Tim Carter of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Originally produced by the legendary Group Theatre in 1936, Johnny Johnson marked Weill's first contribution to the American musical theater. With book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, the anti-war musical opened in November 1936 on Broadway, where it enchanted audiences and critics alike. Lee Strasberg directed, and the cast included a young Elia Kazan. When the production closed in 1937, the Federal Theatre Project took up the work and mounted major productions in Boston and Los Angeles. Although Johnny Johnson enjoyed frequent performances by regional and amateur theaters--even a brief Broadway revival in 1971--the work's publication record left much to be desired. Less than a handful of songs were available as sheet music, and the only published vocal score was deeply flawed.

For the Kurt Weill Edition of Johnny Johnson, Carter drew on a vast array of surviving source materials, including not only Weill's manuscripts but also rehearsal scores and sets of instrumental parts, often containing several layers of chaotic performance annotations. The edition presents Johnny Johnson in full score, with the complete spoken text placed between the musical numbers. Carter's magisterial introductory essay illuminates the work's genesis and performance history, the editorial process, and performance issues. Eleven plates with facsimiles illustrate editorial challenges and solutions. A separately published critical report documents every step of the editorial process and provides additional information for future stagings.

Weill's ingenious orchestration for Johnny Johnson, recalling those for The Threepenny Opera and Mahagonny Songspiel, requires 11 players: clarinet, alto sax, 2 trumpets, trombone, 2 violins, cello, guitar, percussion and Hammond organ. New performance materials (parts and vocal score) derived from the edition will be available for rental in autumn 2012.

Tim Carter, David G. Frey Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is an expert on early baroque opera, Mozart's operas, and Broadway musicals. His landmark study of Oklahoma! was published in 2007 by Yale University Press.

Copies will be available from U.S. dealers at the end of July.

Kurt Weill Edition (Series I, Volume 13): Johnny Johnson, ed. Tim Carter (New York: Kurt Weill Foundation for Music / European American Music Corporation, 2012). Main Volume: 348 pp.; Critical Report: 116 pp. ISBN: 978-0-913574-69-0. Sales Price: $440 ($295 for subscribers). Order no. KWE 1013.

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If you'd like more information about this topic, please contact Kate Chisholm at the Kurt Weill Foundation: (212) 505-5240 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .