The George London Foundation Competition, one of opera’s oldest and most prestigious competitions for Canadian and American opera singers, returns this February to mark its 50th anniversary. Usually a public event, this year’s final round will be held in-person for the singers and judges, but live-streamed free to audiences on the foundation’s website, Facebook page and Youtube channel. This year’s panel of judges includes soprano Harolyn Blackwell, mezzo-soprano Susan Quittmeyer, bass James Morris, and George London Foundation Executive Director John Hauser. The competition has helped propel hundreds of artists to international stardom, including Sondra Radvanovsky, Joyce DiDonato, Renée Fleming and Matthew Polenzani.
After three days of semi-final rounds, the competition will conclude Feb. 25 starting at 4 p.m. EST with performances by about a dozen finalists before the judges at The Morgan Library & Museum’s Gilder Lehrman Hall in New York. Each finalist, accompanied by pianist Michael Fennelly, will perform one selection, and winners will be announced immediately after the judges’ deliberations. Up to five singers will receive a highly covetted George London Award, a US$10,000 prize, and the remaining finalists will receive Encouragement Awards of US$2,000. Previous winners of the George London Award include sopranos Jessica Faselt and Jana McIntyre and mezzo-sopranos Katherine Beck, Lindsay Kate Brown, and Anne Maguire.
Canadian-American bass-baritone George London
Named after the celebrated Canadian-American bass-baritone George London, the foundation and competition has given more than 300 awards since its inception in 1971. The competition is widely considered, as The New York Times noted, a “springboard for major careers in opera.”
More information on the event and the George London Foundation’s season here.
Angela Bell is Opera Canada’s Digital Media Specialist. She has held digital and PR roles with various businesses including the Walt Disney Company, Sullivan Entertainment and Toronto International Film Festival.
