The International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch (IVC) was founded in 1954 and is the sole classical vocal competition in the Netherlands that involves oratorio and art song as well as opera, with much attention also being paid to 20th century and to contemporary music.
Over the past 60 years the IVC has become a permanent fixture amongst international classical vocal competitions; as such it is one of the Netherlands’ most important cultural events from an international viewpoint. The IVC is a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) and fervently supports the discovery and development of young vocal talent.
The IVC’s purpose is described best through its own 'Triple D’ status: Discovery, Development and Delivery. Discovery through the Competition itself; Development through master classes given by renowned singers who are able to transmit their knowledge and technical skills; training weeks, summer schools and the provision of professional advice; Delivery of the singers to impresarios as well as to concert, opera and festival managements in the IVC’s professional network.
The IVC promotes the careers of talented singers with recommendations and introductions to juries, concert managements, casting directors, impresarios, the media and concert and theatrical audiences. The juries for both the Preliminary Rounds and the Competition proper are made up of a combination of famous singers and highly-placed people in the opera and concert world.
Those taking part in the Competition will also be given the opportunity to take part in master classes and a summer school; they will also be put in contact with various opera studios, orchestras and impresarios.
55th INTERNATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION 2022
OPERA | ORATORIO
Grand Prix City of ’s-Hertogenbosch € 7,500
Winner: Andrei Danilov, tenor (Russia, 1988)
Opera Prize€ 7,500
Winner: Andrei Danilov, tenor (Russia, 1988)
Toonkunst Oratorio Prize€ 7,500
Winner: Bella Adamova, Mezzo-soprano (Czech Republic, 1992)
Wagner Prize of the Netherlands€ 3,000 cash prize, plus€ 2,000 scholarship prize
Winner: Sílvia Sequeira, Soprano (Portugal, 1992)
The 'Wagnergenootschap Nederland' has consciously chosen to create a prize that will continue the education and further professional development of the winner. This amount can also be used to cover the costs of participation in masterclasses given by a Wagner specialist.
Staetshuys Fund Prize€ 3,500
Winner: Stanisław Napierała, Tenor (Poland, 1997)
Second Prize for a Finalist in either the Opera or Oratorio category.
Young Talent prize of the Province of North Brabant € 3,500
Winner: Yurii Strakhov, Baritone (Ukraine, 2002)
The Young Talent Prize of the Province of North Brabant is awarded to a singer under the age of 25. The winner will be determined in the Semi-finals.
Van Riemsdijk Prize€ 2.500
Winner: Linsey Coppens, Mezzo-soprano (Belgium, 1993)
Prize will be given to the participant who best performs the compulsory piece Vermeer's Gold by composer Bart Visman and lyricist Marc Pantus.
Marianne Blok Prize€ 2,000
Winner: Xueli Zhou, Soprano (China, 1992)
For the most musically gifted coloratura soprano. The winner may also be determined in the First Round or Semi-finals.
Edwin Rutten & Annett Andriesen Audience Prize€ 1,500
Winner: Sílvia Sequeira, Soprano (Portugal, 1992)
Prize Association Friends of the IVC€ 1,500
Winner: Irene Hoogveld, soprano (Netherlands, 1992)
Press Prize€ 1,000
Winner: Andrei Danilov, tenor (Russia, 1988)
Junior Jury Prize€ 500
Winner: Bella Adamova, mezzo-soprano (Czech Republic, 1992)
Awarded by students in voice and music theatre.
56th INTERNATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION 2023
LIEDDUO
IVC LiedDuo Prize € 7,500
Prize was not awarded.
Staetshuys Fund Prize (2nd Prize) € 3,500
Daria Brusova, Soprano (Russia, 1997) & Mark Vaza, Pianist (Russia, 1999)
Staetshuys Fund Prize (2nd Prize) € 3,500
Marie Maidowski, Soprano (Germany, 1998) & Youngseob Jeon, Pianist (South Korea, 1989)
Van Riemsdijk Prize (best performance Veronese’s Green) € 3,000
Giacomo Schmidt, Baritone (Germany, 1997) & Jong Sun Woo, Pianist (South Korea, 1992)
Van Amelsvoort Prize(best performance composition female composer) € 2,500
Marie Maidowski, Soprano (Germany, 1998) & Youngseob Jeon, Pianist (South Korea, 1989)
Friends of the IVC Prize € 2,000
Vinicius Costa da Silva, Bass-baritone (Brazil, 1995) & Pierre-Nicolas Colombat, Pianist (France, 1992)
Rudolf Jansen Prize € 1,500
Mark Vaza, Pianist (Russia, 1999)
ANED Fund Audience Prize€ 1,500
Giacomo Schmidt, Baritone (Germany, 1997) & Jong Sun Woo, Pianist (South Korea, 1992)
Press Prize € 1,000
Annabel Kennedy, Mezzo-soprano & Ana Manastireanu, Pianist
Junior Jury Prize € 500
Annabel Kennedy, Mezzo-soprano (United Kingdom, 1997) & Ana Manastireanu, Pianist (Romania, 1995)
Engagement Prize International LiedFestival Zeist
Giacomo Schmidt, Baritone (Germany, 1997) & Jong Sun Woo, Pianist (South Korea, 1992)
Engagement Prize Vrienden van het Lied (Friends of the Art Song) Netherlands
Elenora Hu, Soprano (Netherlands, 1995) & Amy Chang, Pianist (New Zealand, 1994)
Registrations 57th International Vocal Competition Opera | Oratorio in 's-Hertogenbosch open.
IVC ‘s-Hertogenbosch celebrates 70th anniversary in 2024!
From 27 September to 5 October 2024, the International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch will organize the 57th edition, in which opera and oratorio are central. It will be possible for young singers of all nationalities, with an age limit to 34 years, to apply for this renowned competition. Preliminary rounds will be held in several places around the world, including Amsterdam and ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Lódz (Poland) and London, among others. There is also the possibility to audition via YouTube.
The total prize money amounts to € 44.000. Prizes include the Grand Prix, which consists of € 15.000 and the Wagner Prize of € 5.000 offered by the Wagner Society Netherlands to continue the training and further development of the winner. Several other prizes such as the Young Talent Prize for singers under 25, are awarded and various concerts and engagement prizes are offered. In addition to the competition rounds participants also receive coaching sessions and masterclasses, jury feedback, the possibility of reimbursement of travel expenses from the semi-finals onwards and accommodation with host families.
The international jury consists of, among others, soprano Roberta Alexander, countertenor Michael Chance, Rosemary Joshua (soprano - head Dutch National Opera Studio), Pål Moe (artistic administrator and casting adviser), Susanne Schmidt (casting director Flanders Opera), Karen Stone (director Opera Europa) and Monique Wagemakers (stage director). During the final on 5 October 2024, the singers will be accompanied by the PhilZuid led by conductor David Parry.
The IVC has been founded in 1954. Its 70th anniversary will be celebrated during the grand finale next year. "Winning 's-Hertogenbosch" is a well-known fact in the international world of singing. The IVC opens doors for young classical singing talent. Over the years, the IVC has proved to be a springboard to world stages for big names such as: Elly Ameling, Measha Brueggergosman, Sarah Connolly, Viorica Cortez, Illeana Cotrubas, Linda Finnie, Ilse Eerens, Thomas Hampson, Robert Holl, Sophie Koch, Petra Lang, Claron McFadden, Yvonne Minton, Nelly Miricioiu, Jard van Nes, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Adrianne Pieczonka and Lenneke Ruiten. Prize winners from recent years are Pretty Yende, Daniela Köhler, Nadine Koutcher, Yajie Zhang, Josh Lovell and Andrei Danilov.
Preliminary Selections
Singers wishing to enter the Competition must take part in the Preliminary Selections (live auditions) or online via YouTube.
13 February 2024
Łódź, Poland
Academy of Music – Concert Hall
Żubardzka 2A, 91-032 Łódź, Poland
Application deadline: 23 January 2024
Jury:
Anna Radziejewska - Mezzo-soprano- University of Music Warsaw - Head of Vocal Department
Adam Zdunikowski - Tenor - Academy of Music Bydgoszcz
Piotr Miciński - Bass - Academy of Music Łódź - Head of Vocal Department
Andrew Watts - Countertenor - General and Artistic Director IVC
24 & 25 February 2024
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam University of the Arts
Oosterdokskade 151, 1011 DL Amsterdam, Netherlands
Application deadline: 25 January 2024
Jury:
Annett Andriesen - Mezzo Soprano - former IVC General Manager
Paul McNamara - Tenor - Artistic Leader Dutch National Opera Academy
Josef Fuchs - Head of Artistic Affairs & Casting Dutch National Touring Opera
Waut Koeken - Intendant Opera Zuid
Andrew Watts - Countertenor - General and Artistic Director IVC
3 March 2024
London, UK
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Silk Street, Barbican, EC2Y 8DT London, UK
Application deadline: 8 February 2024
Jury:
Nelly Miricioiu - Soprano
Susan Bullock - Soprano
Sir John Tomlinson - Bass
Megan Stellar - Rayfield Allied Artist Management
Andrew Watts - Countertenor - General and Artistic Director IVC
16 & 17 March 2024
Berlin, Germany
Staatsoper
Unter den Linden 7, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Applications open: 10 January 2024
Application deadline: 20 February 2024
Jury:
Tobias Hasan - Operndirektor - Berlin Staatsoper
Boris Anifantakis - Head of Young Artist Programme - Berlin Staatsoper
Shirley Apthorp - International Music Critic
Andrew Watts - Countertenor - General and Artistic Director IVC
Preliminary Selections - YouTube video
YouTube (group I) - Application deadline: 10 April 2024
Jury:
Kor-Jan Dusseljee - Tenor
Waut Koeken - Intendant Opera Zuid
Marjolein Niels - Mezzo-soprano - Head Vocal Department Royal Conservatoire The Hague
Andrew Watts - Countertenor - General and Artistic Director IVC
10 April 2024
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Applications open: 8 February 2024
Application deadline: 21 March 2024
Venue tbd
Jury tbd
22 April 2024
New York
Carl Fischer Building
62 Cooper Square, New York, NY, 10003, USA
Applications open: 1 February 2024
Application deadline: 1 April 2024
Jury:
Peter Mark - Conductor - former director of Virginia Opera
Olga Neuwirth - Composer
Andrew Watts - Countertenor - General and Artistic Director IVC
5 May 2024
Salzburg, Austria
Mozarteum
Applications open: 1 March 2024
Application deadline: 9 April 2024
Jury tbd
Preliminary Selections - YouTube video
YouTube (group II) - Application deadline: 25 June 2024
Jury:
Kor-Jan Dusseljee - Tenor
Waut Koeken - Intendant Opera Zuid
Marjolein Niels - Mezzo-soprano - Head Vocal Department Royal Conservatoire The Hague
Andrew Watts - Countertenor - General and Artistic Director IVC
29 & 30 June 2024
’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Theater aan de Parade
Parade 23, 5211 KL 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Applications open: 1 March 2024
Application deadline: 29 May 2024
Jury 2024
The jury consists of, among others, Roberta Alexander (soprano), Michael Chance (countertenor), Rosemary Joshua (soprano - head Dutch National Opera Studio), Pål Christian Moe (artistic administrator and casting consultant), Susanne Schmidt (casting director Opera Vlaanderen), Karen Stone (director Opera Europa), Monique Wagemakers (stage director). More names will be announced in the coming period.
Prizes 2024
Several prizes will be awarded, including the Grand Prix - which consists of a special medal and € 15,000. The Wagner Society Netherlands created the Wagner Prize worth € 5,000 to continue the training and further professional development of the winner. The Van Riemsdijk Prize worth € 3,500 is awarded to the participant who best interprets the compulsory piece Veronese's Green by composer Bart Visman in the version for symphony orchestra. In addition, several other prizes, such as the Young Talent Award for singers under 25, are awarded and various concerts and engagements are offered.
The IVC is a tough competition with a human touch, most aware of the pressures that young singers experience and strive to give every competitor – also the ones that do not win – a worthwhile experience that serves as an encouragement for the future. The IVC is an open community, a meeting place for all who work in and around opera, oratorio and Lied. The IVC also functions as a recourse center for young singers giving advice on problems they may encounter as well as career counselling.
For more information: www.ivc.nu