Vocal Competition

A Competition for Singers WHO CAN ENTERTAIN

A logo for the haugh lighting company.

Cancelled for 2024

 
For 2024, THE  Competition IS BEING REORGANIZED. Our goal is to have this completed and to be able to offer singers a live competition in 2025

 

A woman in red dress singing on stage.

COMPETITION RULES

ELIGIBILITY

The 2023 Harold Haugh Light Opera Vocal Contest has no top age limit. It is open to all singers who are not professionally represented (under management) and who have not worked full-time as a professional singer. The competition is also intended to promote the variety of fine music produced by the composers of Light Opera. Singers can choose music from light classical sources that provide them a means to show their acting ability.

video format

Videos should be labeled with singer’s name and song title in mp4 format via email. Try to keep videos at a reasonable size. Videos to be sent via email should not be greater than 20 Mb in size. Larger files should be sent using WeTransfer.

NOTE: Please do not submit links to videos on various sites, such as youtube or Google Docs.

VIDEO QUALITY

A video displaying poor quality video or audio will reduce your chance of winning. Typical problems include video “noise,” bad shot framing and boomy, distant audio.

Technical elements (zooming, multiple cameras etc.) will not increase a singer’s prospect of an award. A single camera placement showing the performer adequately, and clear sound, is all that is required.

 

REPERTORY

Many classically trained singers are not as familiar with light opera as they are with grand opera. For a list of Light Opera Showstoppers, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.

TO SUBMIT

Send video file to: comicoperaguild@gmail.com
Submission text must include
• SINGER’S NAME,
• SHORT BIOGRAPHY (70 words or less)
• MAILING ADDRESS
• PHONE NUMBER and
• EMAIL ADDRESS

 

ENTRY FEE $20.00
 
Payment may be made:
• by check to: The Comic Opera Guild, PO Box 1922, Ann Arbor, MI 48106
• by PayPal: Go to PayPal.com, the SEND MONEY page and deposit the amount to pay for your fee in US funds to The Comic Opera Guild email address: comicoperaguild@gmail.com When we receive notice of deposit, your entry is complete.

DEADLINE

Entries canceled for 2024

 

ACCEPTABLE SELECTIONS
For this contest only, selections must be from operettas or musicals that contain dialog. Italian opera arias will not be considered (for this contest only), as we are trying to encourage singers to go beyond typical school material. Videos must be specific to this contest; submissions made from university or professional performances featuring the singer, but part of a larger show or concert, will not be accepted.

SCENE ENHANCEMENTS
Costumes, sets, and props may be used, but are not essential. The selection should be accompanied (by piano or other instrument)

2023 AWARDS

The singer who submits the First Place video will receive a cash award of $2,000. Second Place will receive $1,000, and Third Place will receive $500. Singers whose videos receive honorable mention will also be recognized in Haugh Competition publicity material. The award will be announced by May 18, 2023

Prizes will be awarded from the Harold Haugh competition fund. Prize money: First place-$2,000. second place $1,000, 3rd place $500. 

All entrants, including winners, will be mailed comments. Finalists will be critiqued by an adjudication panel. Singers will be judged on both vocal technique and artistic presentation.