2026 Saengerbund Awards

Now in its 141st 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.

Image
Image

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 - $4,000
  • 3rd Prize - $3,000
  • Finalist Awards - $2,000
  • Audience Favorite - $500
Image

Professionally Judged

Past judges have included coaches, casting directors and conductors from the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera and Houston Grand Opera, as well as leaders from other regional symphonies and opera companies.

Image

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.

Image
Image

Past Winners

Image

Daniel O'Hearn

2024 - 1st Prize

Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Program

Image

James Young

2024 - 2nd Prize

Baritone at Staatstheater Wiesbaden.

Image

Maggie Renee

2024 - 3rd Prize

Carmen, Music Academy of the West

Image

Eric Taylor

2023 - 1st Prize

Houston Grand Opera: Salome, Narraboth

Wolf Trap Opera: Faust, Faust

Detroit Opera: Madama Butterfly, Pinkerton

Image

Yohan John Ji

2023 - 2nd Prize

Staatstheater Cottbus

Staatstheater Nürnberg

Georg Solti Accademia

Image

Charles Eaton

2023 - 3rd Prize

Opera Minnesota: Don Giovanni, Masetto

Trouble in Tahiti, Sam

La Boheme, Schaunard

Carnegie Hall: Faure Requiem Soloist

Opera Louisiane: The Christmas Spider (World Premiere), Fedorov

Image
Image

Entry Rules

Limited to young adults aged 21-32

Two selections from German opera, oratorio, operetta, Lieder, folk song, cabaret or musical theatre. Both selections must be sung in German.


Finalists will sing a third selection in their native language. This piece may come from any source.

Deadline: Entry fee of $35 paid by November 15, 2024.

A three-minute video excerpt of one German selection is due by November 15, 2024.


The video is posted to YouTube and the link to the video should be included on the entry page of the website under Audition. For questions, email the director at germansinging2025 @gmail.com

Semi-Finalists will be notified by December 1, 2024.

Semi-Finalists will send a complete recording of their second German selection, due December 15, 2024.

Finalists will be notified by January 2, 2026.

Finalists will compete in the Finals Concert in Houston on Saturday, February 8, 2026.

Travel expenses will be paid by the Houston Saengerbund.

Finalists may not be under professional management at the time of the Finals Concert.

Image

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.