2024 Programming
Duncan Williams Art Song Festival
Presented in Partnership with The Art Song Preservation Society
and
Manhattan School of Music
June XX-XX 2024
Manhattan School of Music
Encouragement Award ($3500): Joseph Parrish
Black and Latinx Song Presentation ($750): Daniel Espinal, Kresley Figueroa, Lwazi Hlati, Ardeen Pierre,
Duncan Williams 2024
Congratulations to our Winners!
Emerging Artists ($8,000): Cierra Byrd, Daniel Rich, César Andrés Parreño
Developing Artists ($5,000): Elizabeth Hanje, Benjamin Ruiz, Jazmine Saunders
Encouragement Award ($3500): Joseph Parrish
Black and Latinx Song Presentation ($750): Daniel Espinal, Kresley Figueroa, Lwazi Hlati, Ardeen Pierre,
Support Our Singers
Our competition was created to remove financial barriers for singers of color and provide funding for audition video creation, travel to New York City for the semifinals and finals, and all other costs normally incurred by singers in a competition. All gifts go directly to support these efforts. All gifts receive name acknowledgment on our website and in our Finals program.
The Duncan Williams Voice Competiton
The competition is named for baritone Todd Duncan and soprano Camilla Williams, the first African-American singers to sing with a major United States opera company when they made their debut with New York City Opera.
The competition is open to singers 18+ in two divisions: The Developing Artist Division (for ages 18-25) and The Emerging Division (for ages 26+).
There is no fee to participate.
Applicants with demonstrable need may apply for funds to create an audition recording.
IN THE NEWS
IN THE NEWS
The Duncan Williams Voice Competition was made possible by the Sphinx Organization’s Sphinx Venture Fund. In 2021, the competition received $97,500 to launch the competition.
From the press release:
A new competition for emerging Black and Latinx singers will be launched in 2023 by the New York City Opera (NYCO) in partnership with Manhattan School of Music (MSM). Alexa Smith, Chief of Staff and Assistant Vice President for Special Initiatives at MSM and a former Director of Marketing for NYCO, says the new competition will have no entry fee and will also offer monetary audition support to successful applicants to ensure that financial barriers are removed for participating entrants. The competition will offer cash prizes, performance contracts with NYCO, and mentorship.
Learn more about the Sphinx Organization HERE.
Contact us.
Info@DuncanWilliamsVoiceCompetition.com