Voice Competition 2027

Registration:

Due Date: January 17, 2027

General Information:

• All questions/comments should come from teachers only
  • Email competition@azmusicfest.org
• Parents and students are not allowed to contact Musicfest staff to discuss any portion of the competition.

Teachers should take time to review all of the current Guidelines, and go over these Guidelines with the participating students and their parents.

• Performers must complete the application and submit the registration fee in order to perform. Early application is advised. It is possible that all available slots for performers will be filled before application deadline.
  • The application must include the complete and accurate titles of the pieces to be performed, along with the full composer names, opus/catalog numbers (if applicable), movement designations (if applicable), and key signatures (if applicable).
• Performers must be Arizona residents.
• Performers must be in grades 9 through 12, no younger than 14 (acceptable if student is turning 14 within the school year) and no older than 18 years of age.
• Schedule conflicts may be submitted in the application form’s comments section, but Arizona Musicfest does not guarantee that we will be able to accommodate all conflicts. No conflicts will be accepted after the application deadline.
• To edit your application information after submission, please return to the original confirmation email you received and follow the instructions in that email. No changes are allowed after the application deadline.
• No application refunds will be given in the event of performer withdrawal.
• Each teacher and performer must abide by all requirements and deadlines stated herein. Non-compliance will result in disqualification.
• Performers MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN PIANISTS
• Jazz singers are encouraged to compete in our jazz competition.

Date & Time:

• The Competition will be held on Saturday, January 30, from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
  • The times in the table below are the estimated window for each division.
    • Divisions may begin earlier or later depending on the number of entrants
    • Exact performance timeslots will be emailed out the week following the application due date.
    • Performers may only perform during their division’s window

Divisions:

Music:

• Performers must perform two contrasting selections, from one of the three options below:
• One selection from classical repertoire and one selection from musical theatre repertoire.

OR

• Two contrasting selections from classical repertoire.

OR

• Two contrasting selections from musical theatre repertoire.

• All selections must be memorized.
• Both selections will be performed in the order of the performer’s choice.
• Performers will “slate” – give their name and the names of the pieces that they will be performing in order of performance.
• If the performer’s piece(s) exceed the length of the allotted competition time, please note the judges may stop a performance in order to stay on schedule, with no penalty to the performer.
• Performers must provide three total copies of their score(s):
  • Score(s) must have measures numbered and cuts marked (if any) so the judges can use them as a reference during the performance.
• One Steinway piano will be provided.
• Please dress in appropriate concert attire.

Accompaniment:

• Pieces for voice and piano must be performed with accompaniment.
• Performers must provide their own live accompanist. No tracks of any kind will be allowed.

Location:

The competition will be held at Arizona Musicfest: 7950 E Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Prizes:

• Up to three performers from each Division may be awarded cash prizes in the amounts detailed below.
• Awarded performers may be invited to perform in the Young Musicians Concert Series in the MIM Music Theater.
• Awarded performers may receive additional performance opportunities as they become available.
  

  Division	First Prize	Second Prize	Third Prize
  I (Grades 9 & 10)	$350	$200	$100
  II (Grades 11 & 12)	$450	$350	$200

Adjudication:

• Judges will stop performers if their performance exceeds the competition time limit. There is no penalty if a performer needs to be stopped for this reason.
• Judges may elect to award Honorable Mentions to performers demonstrating high levels of artistry in their performances.
• Judges have the option to withhold prizes.
• All teachers will receive judges’ comments within a week of the adjudication date.
• Musicfest’s competitions do not have a prescribed scoring system, and thus require that all judges hear all the competition participants to allow for proper verbal deliberation and a fair outcome. Since selective recusal is not allowed, by agreeing to be on this jury panel, the judges agree that they will not submit their own students as competitors. Furthermore, performers are ineligible to participate if they or their principal teacher have a familial relationship with a judge.
• The judges have full discretion over awarding decisions, which are final and cannot be challenged.