First organised in 1995, Leyla Gencer Voice Competition was assumed by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts in 2006 and has since been organised biennially together with Fondazione Academia d'Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo Teatro alla Scala.

Admired internationally in the opera world as "La Diva Turca," Leyla Gencer, one of twentieth century's greatest divas, retained her status as one of the world's most renowned opera singers until her decision to conclude her singing career in 1985. As an educator she has contributed to the careers of many young talents. Her passion was carried to a higher level when, dedicated to her name, the inaugural "Yapı Kredi International Leyla Gencer Voice Competition" was held between September 3-9, 1995.

With its 94 participants from various countries, the competition attracted worldwide attention. Following the competition, the laureates were invited to perform on the stages of important opera houses including Teatro alla Scala.

In 1997, Leyla Gencer gave her support to the second competition by taking part in the jury. Other members included Aydın Gün as President of the Jury; Pierre Medecin, Director of Paris Opera Comique; Luigi Targetti, Artistic Director of Teatro alla Scala; Helga Schmidt, Artistic Consultant of Royal Opera House; Gianni Tangucci, Artistic Director of Bologna Opera Theatre and Vincenzo de Vivo, Artistic Director of the Rome Opera Theatre. A total of 90 contestants from Germany, Russia, USA, Norway, Japan, Italy, Korea, Bulgaria, Albania, Yugoslavia, Estonia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey participated.

Postponed due to the disastrous earthquake on August 17 1999, the IIIrd Yapı Kredi International Leyla Gencer Voice Competition was held between August 29 and September 4, 2000. 35 contestants from various countries were evaluated by the following jury members: Aydın Gün (President of the Jury); Leyla Gencer; Francesco Canessa, President of San Carlo Opera Theatre; Vincenzo de Vivo, Artistic Director; Luigi Targetti, Artistic Director of La Scala Theatre; John M. Mordler, President of Monte Carlo Theatre; Sergio Segalini, Editor of Opera International Magazine; Karen Stone, President of Graz Opera Theatre and Gianni Tangucci, Artistic Director of Rome Opera Theatre.

Following a six-year hiatus, the IVth Leyla Gencer Voice Competition was organised by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts in collaboration with Fondazione Accademia d'Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo Teatro alla Scala, and under the sponsorship of Doğuş Group and Garanti Bank, between August 25-30, 2006. From among 164 applicants for the preliminary selection, a total of 35 singers from Germany, USA, Brasil, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, South Korea, Georgia, Italy, Moldavia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Greece were selected to participate in the competition rounds in İstanbul. Presided by Stéphane Lissner, General Manager and Artistic Director of Teatro alla Scala, the competition jury included Gürer Aykal, State Artist and Conductor of Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra; Yekta Kara, Director-in-chief of İstanbul State Opera and Ballet; John M. Mordler, General Director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo; Gianni Tangucci, Artistic Director of Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano; Vincenzo de Vivo, Artistic Director of Teatro Comunale-Bologna along with Leyla Gencer herself.

With an ever-growing prominence in the opera world, Leyla Gencer Voice Competition was organised for the fifth time, between August 25-30 2008, by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts in collaboration with Fondazione Accademia d'Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo Teatro alla Scala, sponsored by the Doğuş Group and Garanti Bank, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and with the contributions of Borusan Holding and the İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency.

Presided by Pier Luigi Pizzi, Artistic Director of the Sferisterio Opera Festival, the competition jury included Yekta Kara, Director-in-chief of the İstanbul State Opera and Ballet; Luca Targetti, Casting Director of La Scala Theatre; Gürer Aykal, State Artist and Conductor of Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra; Gianni Tangucci, Assistant Artistic Director of Napoli San Carlo Theatre; Vincenzo de Vivo, Assistant Director of valencia Opera and Theatre and Paolo Arcà, Artistic Director of Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

The jury arranged by Leyla Gencer herself before she passed away in 2008, evaluated the 137 applicants from all around the world during the preliminary selections, 38 of them made it to the quarter finals held in İstanbul on August 26-27, 2008 leaving 18 semi-finalists.

VIth Leyla Gencer Voice Competition is organised by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and Fondazione Accademia d'Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo Teatro alla Scala, in August 2010. Differing from the preliminary selection process of the previous years where applicants' cd recordings were admitted, this year, applicants will be performing live at the well-known opera houses of Barcelona, Berlin and Milan, in addition to İstanbul. VIth Leyla Gencer Voice Competition will take place between August 21-26, 2010.