2020 Saengerbund Awards

Now in its 136th year, the Houston Saengerbund is the oldest continuously operating musical organization in the city of Houston. The Saengerbund Awards are given yearly to encourage and support rising professional singers on the verge of a national career.

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About Us

The Saengerbund Awards began in 2016. Since that time the support for the contest has grown, and we are able to offer greater prizes to the winners. This year the prizes are as follows:

  • 1st Prize - $5,000
  • 2nd Prize - $2,000
  • 3rd Prize - $1,000
  • Finalist Awards - $750
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Professionally Judged

Past judges have included casting directors and conductors from the Metropolitan Opera and Houston Grand Opera, as well as other regional symphony and opera companies.

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Strong Competition

Past winners of the Saengerbund Awards have appeared with major companies throughout the USA and Europe, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and many others.

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Past Winners

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Thomas Glass

2016 1st Place

Baritone Thomas Glass was a 2017-2019 Studio Artist at Houston Grand Opera, where he made his role debuts as Marcello in La Bohème, Alvaro in Florencia en el Amazonas and covered the title role in Don Giovanni. In 2019, Thomas will sing Marcello with Des Moines Metro Opera.

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Ricardo José Rivera-Soto

2018 1st Place

Ricardo joined the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2018. He received his Master of Music degree from the Shepherd School of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Stephen King, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Puerto Rico Music Conservatory. He has been a participant of the Aspen Music Festival and IVAI in Tel-Aviv, among others.

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Joanna Latini

2017 2nd Place

Opera News hailed Joanna Latini “a generous performer with winning personality and a sound both luscious and supple, exuding charm.” In the summer of 2019, Ms. Latini will return to the Glimmerglass Festival where she will sing the role of Rosina in The Ghosts of Versaillesas well as cover the roles of Magnolia in Show Boat and Violetta in La Traviata.
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Entry Rules

Limited to young adults aged 21-32

Three selections from German Opera, oratorio, operetta, Lieder or folk song

Entry fee of $10 paid before December 1, 2019.

2-Minute video excerpt from a German Lied. Audition due by December 1, 2019.

Travel stipend provided to out-of-town semi-finalists.

Finalists may not be under professional management.

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Sign Up Today!

Signing up for an account does not enter you into the competition. Verification of entry payment is required for your account to be authorized and validated. You will receive email confirmation when the payment has cleared.