Westport, CT -- Sixty-three singers from around the world applied for this year’s Heida Hermanns International Voice Competition. Their videos were reviewed and ranked by a panel of Preliminary Judges, who had the difficult task of selecting 16 applicants to be invited to the Semi-Finals on Saturday, November 5th.
A panel of distinguished Competition Judges will then determine six contestants out of the 16 to perform in the Finals on Sunday, November 6th before a ticketed audience. The six Finalists will compete for First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention Prizes, as well as professional recognition. Opera legend John Macurdy of the Metropolitan Opera, internationally celebrated soprano Patricia Schuman and Martha Sharp, Professor of Voice at the University for Music and Dramatic Arts "Mozarteum" in Salzburg, Austria are the Finals Judges. The Semi- Finals and Finals of the Competition will be held at The Unitarian Church in Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Road, on Saturday, November 5th from 10AM-3PM and Sunday, November 6th beginning at 2 PM.
The Heida Hermanns International Music Competition, presented by Connecticut Alliance for Music, is held each year on a rotating basis in piano, voice and strings and showcases exceptional musicians from around the world between the ages of 19-35. Many Competition winners have gone on to successful international careers. Acclaimed concert pianist, teacher, arts innovator and Westport resident Fredric Chiu is a past First Prize winner, as well as Mary Petro and other outstanding musicians such as Spencer Myer, Max Levinson, Christopher O’Riley and the Alexander String Quartet.
The Competition was created in 1972 and its founder, Heida Hermanns, was a famous concert pianist, teacher, philanthropist and Westport resident. In addition to the Competition, Heida Hermanns will always be remembered as one of the founders of the Westport-Weston Arts Council and as a leader in the startup and growth of the Levitt Pavilion.
Connecticut Alliance for Music, Inc. (CAM) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Fairfield, Connecticut. CAM believes that music is a vital and important aspect of the human culture. We are here to champion exceptional musicians and the live performance of fine music and create an environment in which classical musicians can flourish. Audiences can find creative inspiration, enjoyment and enrichment through its programs, which include competitions and concerts, performance opportunities for talented musicians and music outreach.
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