1.The 6th Annual Irene Dalis Vocal Competition will be held in conjunction with the West Coast Opera Auditions from 16 to 18 May 2011.  The Competition with the selected 10 Finalists will be 19 May 2011.

2.All general guidelines for applying to the West Coast Auditions for Singers, for either managed or unmanaged singers, are applicable.

3.You must participate in the West Coast Auditions for Singers in order to be eligible for the competition.

4.Previous 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners are ineligible to compete again in the Competition.  They may, however, participate in the West Coast Auditions.  All remaining finalists are still eligible to compete.

5.There is no age limit for the Dalis Vocal Competition. 

6.The competition is limited to U. S. citizens and those with green cards.  Proof of citizenship and/or green card is required.  Driver’s Licenses are NOT proof of citizenship or residency.

7.You must have sung a principal role with a Level IV company (with orchestra) a minimum of 2 performances.  In addition, you must have sung a principal role and/or a featured role (with orchestra), a minimum of 2 performances, with a Level III company in order to be eligible to compete.  These performances need to have taken place in season 2009/10 and/or 2010/11 in order for you to be eligible.

8.Singers who have not previously had contracts with Level I or A Budget companies (see below for more information *) in a Principal and/or Featured role (as per the AGMA guidelines, www.musicalartists.org/ Schedule C - Classification of Roles) may enter.  If you participated in a resident artist program, young artist program, educational outreach program with a Level I or A Budget company, this would not disqualify you from competing.  However, you must indicate on your resume that that role was done when you were a resident artist, not contracted by the company under a separate agreement.

9.A requirement on the application form is to provide the dates of the qualifying companies and roles sung (refer to #7 above) in order for your application to be complete.  Applications will be considered incomplete without this information.

10.Each singer will need to provide a list of at least 5 arias in 3 languages (at least 1 in English).   One selection should come from non-operatic repertoire, such as an oratorio aria or symphonic work.

11.There is one accompanist provided for all the auditions and will be the official accompanist for each singer, no exceptions.

12.By applying to enter the competition, each singer acknowledges full acceptance of the rules and the results of the competition.  You will be required to sign a statement acknowledging your understanding of the rules.

13.The competition reserves the right to modify these rules, in future years, should it become necessary.

14.The decisions of the preliminary judges and Competition judges are final.

*If you are unfamiliar with which companies comprise Level I and /or A Budgets, both here in the U. S. and outside of this country, you may refer to the Musical America Directory for this information or obtain the information from Opera America. You are responsible for knowing and understanding this information prior to applying for the Competition and will sign the Statement of Understanding when you submit your application to compete.

Preliminary Round

15.Each singer who has applied for inclusion in the competition will be heard on one of two days for the West Coast Auditions for Singers, either 17 or 18 May 2011.

16.Each singer will have provided, by the deadline date of 2 May 2011, a completed application form that accompanies their other materials for participation in the West Coast auditions.  This must include the information required in #7 above.

17.There will be 3 judges for the Preliminary Round.

18.    Upon hearing all competitors. the 10 Finalists for Irene Dalis Vocal  Competition will be announced on 18 May 2012.

Preliminary Judges

See Participating Companies’ Page

Competition Round

DATE:    Saturday, 19 May 2012, 7:00 pm

PLACE:  California Theater, San Jose CA

19.There are 10 Finalists selected to compete in the Competition.

20.Each singer will be accorded a fifteen-minute rehearsal with the accompanist on the afternoon of the Competition, 21 May 2011

21.There is one accompanist for the Competition Round, no exceptions.

22.Attire for the Competition Round is formal.

23.Competition will take place in front of an audience at the California Theatre in San Jose, CA.

24.A separate judging panel, made up of 3 distinguished opera conductors, directors, general directors, adjudicates the 10 Finalists in the Competition Round.

25.The judges will determine the order of the 10 Finalists

26.The Master of ceremonies will announce the prizes.

27.Photos with Irene Dalis and others will be taken at the end of the evening.  Reception to follow (details to be announced).

Prizes

There are three major prizes in conjunction with the Irene Dalis Vocal Competition:

First Prize - $15,000 USD

Second Prize - $10.000 USD

Third Prize - $  5,000 USD

Other Prizes include:

Audience Favorite Award:  $5,000 (to be voted on by audience during final intermission)

Encouragement Awards:  $2,000 each to the remaining competitors

Wagner Prize: $1,000, awarded if there is an appropriate competitor in this voice fach 

Competition Judges

To be announced in mid-February