The Aria Collective
First annual · Las Vegas, NV

The Aria Collective University Vocal Competition

A live classical vocal competition in Las Vegas for undergraduate voice students. There's no pre-screening: if you register, you sing for a panel of judges and receive written feedback.

Registration details
Date
Saturday, April 17, 2027Each singer receives their own arrival, rehearsal and performance times
Venue
Grace Presbyterian ChurchLas Vegas, Nevada
Who can enter
Undergraduate voice studentsEnrolled in a bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university
Judges
Lisa Elliott
Claudia MerrillMore judges to be announced
Registration
Opens soonJoin the list to hear first
Registration fee
$125No pre-screening: pay to sing
How it works

From registration to the stage

  1. Register

    Complete the application and pay the $125 fee. There is no audition recording and no screening round. If you register, you sing.

  2. Send your music

    Upload your music so the collaborative pianists can prepare.

  3. Rehearse and perform

    You'll receive your own arrival, rehearsal and performance times. Sing with one of our collaborative pianists, or bring your own: tell us ahead of time and we'll schedule you a 10-minute rehearsal. The fee is $125 either way.

  4. Awards and feedback

    Every singer receives written feedback from the judges, and the top three singers win cash prizes.

Awards and judges

Prizes

  • First place: $500
  • Second place: $300
  • Third place: $200
  • The Grace City Opera Award: for the best performance of a work by a composer from any underrepresented background

Judges: Lisa Elliott and Claudia Merrill. More judges to be announced.

Repertoire ideas

Voices worth singing

Classical song is far richer than the standard repertoire suggests. The composers below are just a starting point. Music by a composer from any underrepresented background is eligible for the Grace City Opera Award, whether or not they appear on this list.

Black composers

  • Florence Price
  • Margaret Bonds
  • H. T. Burleigh
  • Undine Smith Moore
  • Spiritual arrangements by Hall Johnson and Moses Hogan

Resource: African Diaspora Music Project

Women composers

  • Clara Schumann
  • Fanny Hensel
  • Cécile Chaminade
  • Lili Boulanger
  • Pauline Viardot
  • Amy Beach

Resource: Boulanger Initiative

Latin American and Latino/a composers

  • Carlos Guastavino
  • Manuel Ponce
  • María Grever
  • Jaime Ovalle
  • Heitor Villa-Lobos
  • Ernesto Lecuona
Registration

Registration opens soon

$125 to sing, with no pre-screening. Join our mailing list to hear the moment registration opens, along with judge announcements and competition news.

Join the list