First organised in 1995, the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition aims to nurture and support promising singers from around the world and set them on the path to an international career in opera by providing an invaluable opportunity to showcase their talents within the framework of a prestigious competition.

The competition will be held in İstanbul for the sixth time, between August 21-26, 2010 and is organised in the name of Leyla Gencer, the greatest name oTurkey has presented to the opera world who passed away in 2008.

The competition organisation was assumed by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts in 2006 and has since been organised biannually together with Fondazione Accademia d'Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo Teatro alla Scala.

Following a preliminary selection in which the candidates perform live in opera houses of Berlin, Barcelona, Milan, and İstanbul, the 6th. Leyla Gencer Voice Competition will be held in İstanbul before an internationally renowned jury and audience.

During the preliminary selections the candidates are required to perform two opera arias of their choice (and the recitatives, if any), in their original language and key. Preliminary selections will be held live in May 2010 in the following cities:

May 6th, Teatro alla Scala, Sala prove Abanella - MILAN, 10:30 am
May 10th, Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Probebühne 1 - BERLIN, 12:00 pm
May 13th, Gran Teatre du Liceu, Sala Coro - BARCELONA, 10:00 am
May 15th-16th, Salon (IKSV) - ISTANBUL, 11:00 am

The Competition is open to singers in all voice categories and of all nationalities aged between 18-32 (born after August 26, 1978) at the competition date.

Applicants must submit the following materials in person or by registered post, postmarked by April 23, 2010 Friday at the latest to İKSV. Submitted materials shall not be returned.

a) Application form fully completed and signed,
b) Copy of current passport or official identity card,
c) Two photos (headshot, 6 x 9 cm),
d) Professional résumé in English,
e) Documents proving their educational status, performances, concerts and awards,
f) Only two opera arias of their choice performed in their original language and key *
g) The copy of the bank receipt documenting the 50 Euros application fee. **

**Application fee of the competition is 50 Euros which is non refundable regardless of the outcome of the competition. The fee should be wired to the following bank account below:

Account Name: İstanbul Kültür Sanat Vakfı
Bank and Branch: YAPI KREDI BANK / BEYOĞLU BRANCH
Name             
Address:  İstiklal cad. Elhamra İş hanı No: 130 Kat: 2 Beyoğlu
İSTANBUL / TURKEY
Account No: 11364564
Swift: YAPITRIST

Iban No: TR030006701000000011364564 

İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts
Sadi Konuralp Cad. No: 5
Şişhane 34433 İstanbul- Turkey
P: +90 212 334 07 76
F: +90 212 334 07 19
info@leylagencer.org

40 singers will be entitled to participate in the competition rounds in İstanbul. Candidates will be informed individually of the results of the selection process in the first half of June.

Contestants are required to arrive in İstanbul one day before the commencement of the competition and should register at the Competition Secretariat at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on August 21, 2010 Saturday between 1-5. p.m. Applicants who fail to register will not be admitted to the Competition (except for unforeseen situations where the organizers are duly notified). During the registration, the contestants are required to present their official list of arias for the competition (four opera arias and one solo passage from an oratorio or cantata).*

Following the registration, a drawing will be held to determine the order of appearance in the competition rounds on August 21, 2010 at 6.p.m.. The Competition Secretary will act on behalf of the competitors who are absent during the drawing. The procedure will be repeated before each round.

*All works selected shall be performed from memory.
The Jury reserves the right to change one or more works in the official programme of the competitor where necessary; repertoire changes by the competitor will not be allowed.

The quarter final will be held without audience at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall. The contestants will be required to perform an aria of their choice and one chosen by the Jury. Contestants succeeding in this round shall advance to the semi-final.

The semi-final will be held before audience at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall. Each contestant will be required to perform two arias both chosen by the Jry from the official list.

Following the general rehearsal held on August 25, the final will be held before audience at Hagia Eirene Museum. The finalists will perform the aria of their choice approved by the jury and will be accompanied by the Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Organisation Comimitee has the right to cancel or postpone the competition under circumstances of force majeure such as war, civil and political disturbances, epidemics, flood and fire.

All finalists will receive a certificate. Prizes shall be awarded in the following categories:
First Prize: € 12.500
Second Prize: € 7.500
Third Prize: € 3.500

The Jury reserves the right not to award a first prize. In case of ex-aequo, the prize will be divided equally.

The contestants may either perform with accompanists provided by the organisation or choose to bring their own accompanists (at the expense of contestants).

Each contestant is entitled to rehearse for 20 minutes with an accompanist before each round, the time and order of which shall match the contestants' listing order.

The contestants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and daily expenses. The organisation will send a list of hotels upon request. Shuttle service will be provided daily for the contestants' transportation to Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall.

The organisation will cover the costs of 2 nights' accommodation (incl. breakfast) of the finalists.

For all rounds of the competition, IKSV reserves the right broadcast live, record and videotape for future broadcasting all rounds. The applicants hereby grant the Foundation the right to make use of their photos, and biographical information as well as the copy right of audio, video and DVD recordings for broadcast on TV, radio and the Internet and for commercial release.