Classical Voice Competitions
The Classical Voice department offers five annual Song Competitions for current students of the Victoria Conservatory of Music to perform, compete, and receive feedback from renowned and respected adjudicators.
First and Second Prizes as well as Honourable Mentions are available to be awarded for each competition, and for the Annual Margaret Abbott Memorial English Art Song Competition up to $3,000 in scholarship funding is available to be awarded to participants in the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior A divisions.
French Art Song Competition
Date: April 17, 2024
The Classical Voice Department provides this opportunity for students of all ages and abilities to perform two contrasting French Art Songs.
How to Apply
Deadline: Wednesday, April 3 at 8:00pm
1. Pay the $16 Application Fee at the Front Desk, by phone, or online:
2. Complete the Application Form:
2023/24 Results
JUNIOR
1st Lauren Ahbirosh, Yoyo Lu (Tie)
2nd Hritika Sompriti
Honorable Mention
Sophia Koslov
Warner Clark
Amara Dunne
INTERMEDIATE
1st Marlo Karakas
2nd Natalie Beilin
Honorable Mention
Oscar Lines
SENIOR B
1st Frances Rosenberg, Maria Valdes (Tie)
2nd Jill Forester, Neil Marcovitz
SENIOR A
1st Melissa Irvine, Kyra Kristmanson (Tie)
2nd Anna Bigland-Pritchard
Margaret Abbott Memorial English Art Song Competition
Date: October 25, 2023
The Classical Voice department provides this opportunity for current students with their instructors recommendation to perform two contrasting English Art Songs. Student participants perform in Alix Goolden Performance Hall and receive feedback from adjudicators.
First and Second Prizes as well as Honourable Mentions are available to be awarded for each competition, and for the Annual Margaret Abbott Memorial English Art Song Competition up to $3,000 in scholarship funding is available to be awarded to participants in the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior A divisions.
About Margaret Abbott
The Victoria Conservatory of Music Scholarship for the performance of English Language Art Song was established after Margaret Abbott’s death in 2003 to honour her memory and to perpetuate her high artistic standards. Soprano Margaret Abbott’s performances of concert oratorio and operatic repertoire from all the musical eras were acclaimed throughout Canada. She sang with the Victoria Symphony and the Victoria Choral Society. Her performances on CBC included solo roles in the CBC premieres of Britten’s operas Albert Herring and Peter Grimes. Her family was closely connected to the Victoria Conservatory of Music for many years. Her children, Norman, Vivienne and Jocelyn, were among the Conservatory’s first students.
How to Apply
2024 Deadline: TBA
2023/24 Results
Junior
First Place: Denisa Vandekerkhove
Spirit of Song: Nathalia Kao
Intermediate
First Place: Maisha Klette
Second Place: Marlo Karakas
Third Place (Tie): Grace Gaboury | Natalie Beilin
Honorable Mention: Emily Bai
Spirit of Song (Tie): Amelia Croft | Kaya Crumley
Senior A
First Place (Tie): Juhui Yoon | Anna Bigland-Pritchard
Second Place (Tie): Katrina McLaughlin | Melissa Irvine
Spirit of Song (Tie): Alice Wolff | Jasmine Bodi
Honourable Mention: Audrey Hamilton | Elizabeth Milward | Essencia Leandro
Senior B
First Place: Judy Roberts
Honourable Mention: Brooke Gallupe
German Lieder Competition
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
The Classical Voice Department provides this opportunity for students of all ages and abilities to perform two contrasting German Art Songs.
How to Apply
2025 Deadline: TBA
2023/24 Results
Junior
First Place: Warner Clark
Honourable Mention: Dannah Che | River Chen | Yiwen Miao
Intermediate
First Place: Natalie Beilin
Honourable Mention: Grace Lauchlan | Marlo Karakas
Senior B
First Place (Tie): Pam Campbell | Brooke Gallupe
Fab Awards (HM): Jill Forrester | Heather Valsangkar | Neil Marcovitz
Spirit of Lieder Award: Frances Rosenberg
Senior A
First Place (Tie): Melissa Irvine | Katrina McLaughlin
Second Place: Elizabeth Milward
Honourable Mention: Juhui Yoon | Jill Goddard | Michael van der Kamp
Italian Art Song Competition
Date: March 6, 2024
The Classical Voice Department provides this opportunity for students of all ages and abilities to perform two contrasting Italian Art Songs.
How to Apply
2025 Deadline: TBA
2023/24 Results
Junior Division
First Place: Hrithika Sompriti
Second Place: Yoyo Lu
Third Place: Lauren Ahbirosh
Intermediate Division
First Place: Marlo KarakasSecond Place: Nateo Thompson
Honorable Mentiona: Natalie Beilin | Maisha Klette
Senior B Division
First Place: Heather Valsangkar | Neil MarcovitzSecond Place: Pam Campbell | Brooke Gallupe
Honorable Mention: Patricia Saavedra
Senior A Division
First Place: Katrina McLaughlanSecond Place: Katie Cooper | Juhui Yoon
Third Place: Christina Hilgartner | Kyra Kristmanson | Cynan Thompson