The Annapolis area’s own version of American Idol takes place on the weekend of April 27 and 28, 2013, in Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts at Annapolis Opera’s 25th Annual Vocal Competition. The Vocal Competition is a unique opportunity to hear some of the region’s finest opera stars of the future and it’s free and open to the public, thanks to the 15th year of sponsorship by the Helena Foundation.
Members of the public are invited to spend all or part of Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 am to 4:30pm listening to the 25 semi-finalists that the Annapolis Opera’s Vocal Competition panel of judges selected from a pool of more than 80 applicants as they compete for one of the 8 finalist spots. The singers who advance to the finals, held on Sunday, April 28 at 3:00pm, will compete for cash prizes ranging in value from $600 to $3,000. Members of the audience will be invited to vote for their favorite performer, and the winner of the Audience Choice Award will receive a $500 prize!
This year, thanks to a donation from the Maryland Opera Society, the Vocal Competition’s pool of prize money is larger than ever. Through the Maryland Opera Society’s generous donation, a new Annapolis Opera Fund has been established to support a new, annual $2,000 second prize, the Marie E. Crump Memorial Award. The fund was originally a legacy from Marie E. Crump, founder of the Maryland Opera Society and an opera lover especially dedicated to supporting young singers early in their careers.
“Annapolis Opera’s Vocal Competition is eagerly anticipated by outstanding young singers in the mid-Atlantic region,” says Vicky Waidner, Honorary Chair of this year’s competition. “Finalists often go on to successful professional careers,” she added, “so Annapolis audiences have the opportunity to see the opera stars of tomorrow early in their careers.”
“Opera is expensive to produce and tickets to opera events are costly,” commented Annapolis Opera President Lee Finney. “That means many people never experience opera live. Thanks to the generosity of the Helena Foundation, this free concert is a great way for everyone to experience the joy of hearing wonderful singers perform some of the greatest music ever written.”
Annapolis Opera Company has provided professionally staged operas and concerts for the mid-Atlantic region for the past 40 years. The Opera’s mission is to present artistically excellent professional opera productions, educational programs and other opera-related events, featuring emerging artists. More information on the Annapolis Opera is available at www.annapolisopera.org.
