2021 Saengerbund Awards

Now in its 137th 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 - $3,500
  • 3rd Prize - $2,500
  • Finalist Awards - $1000
  • Audience Favorite - $500
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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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Isabel Signoret

2020

A Miami native, Isabel Signoret is a graduate of HGO’s Young Artist Vocal Academy. She will enter the Young Artist Program of the Vienna State Opera in 2021.

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Benjamin Dickerson

2020

Benjamin Dickerson has recently been seen in recital on the stages of Carnegie’s Weill Hall and the Caramoor Center for the Performing Arts. He will enter Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts Young Artist Program in 2021.

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Blake Denson

2020

Blake Denson, a native of Paducah, Kentucky, was a 2020 winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He will become a Studio Artist at Houston Grand Opera in 2020.

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Ricardo José Rivera-Soto

2018

Ricardo Rivera-Soto joined the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2018. He made his company debut that year as Schaunard in La Boheme and performed the role of Sharpless in Madama Butterfly in 2019.

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Joanna Latini

2017

Opera News hailed Joanna Latini “a generous performer with winning personality and a sound both luscious and supple, exuding charm.” In 2019, Ms. Latini reprised her Glimmerglass Festival role of Rosina in The Ghosts of Versailles at Versailles Palace in France.
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Thomas Glass

2016

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 was a winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

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Entry Rules

Limited to young adults aged 21-32

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

Deadline: Entry fee of $12 paid by December 1, 2020.

3-Minute video excerpt from a German Lied or aria, due by December 1, 2020.

Semi-Finalists will be notified by December 5, 2020.

Semi-Finalists will send a complete recording of a contrasting selection, due December 15, 2020.

Finalists will be notified by January 2, 2021.

Finalists will compete in the Finals Concert in Houston on February 6, 2021.

Travel expenses will be paid by the Houston Saengerbund.

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

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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.