Lotte Lenya Competition
2008 Guidelines
PRIZES
Finalists selected from regional auditions will each receive an award of $500, plus a stipend of $500 to defray costs of travel, if any, to the finals in Rochester, NY, 12 April 2008. Awards at the finals will include prizes of $10,000, $7500, and $5000.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to singer/actors born after 31 December 1975 and before 1 January 1989. First, second, and third prizewinners from previous years may not enter the 2008 competition.
REPERTOIRE
Selection of repertoire should demonstrate the contestant's dramatic and vocal versatility. Contestants must prepare four selections, each of which must be sung in its original musical version and language. At least one selection must be in a language other than English, and all selections must be performed from memory. Repertoire must include:
- two contrasting theatrical selections by Kurt Weill;
- an aria from the operatic or operetta repertoire (not Weill);
- a selection from the American musical theater repertoire (not Weill).
ACCOMPANISTS
At the regional competition, each contestant must provide his/her own accompanist. At the finals in Rochester, contestants may bring their own accompanists (at their expense) or utilize the staff accompanists provided by the Kurt Weill Foundation.
JUDGES
The panel of judges will consist of distinguished musical theater and opera professionals. Judges for the 2007 Lenya Competition included the world-renowned singer Teresa Stratas; Theodore S. Chapin, President of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization; and conductor and director Ted Sperling.
REGIONAL COMPETITIONS
Regional auditions will be held in Chicago, IL (1 February), Boston, MA (6 February), Rochester, NY (23 February), Lawrence, KS (29 February), and New York City (7 and 8 March). Contestants unable to participate in regional auditions may submit videotapes or DVDs, which must contain all four of the required repertoire selections, by 15 February 2008.
FINALS
12 April 2008 -- Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications, including a current resumé and photograph, must be received by 14 January 2008 at the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, 7 East 20th Street, New York, NY, 10003, fax: 212.353.9663.