Leyla Gencer Voice Competition undertakes in earnest to discover the promising singers from all over the world and introduce them to the opera world.

Organised by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts together with Accademia del Teatro alla Scala, the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition will be held for the 7th time in 2012.

2012 PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS *
BERLIN 26 April
LONDON 4 May
VİIENNA 7 May
MADRID 10 May
MILAN 14 May
İSTANBUL 16-17 May

2012 İSTANBUL FINALS
Registration 15 September
Quarter Finals 16-17 September
Semi Final 18 September
Final Night 20 September

* The venues and other details of the preliminary auditions will soon be announced here.

7th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition is open to all voice categories for singers between the ages of 18 and 32 (born after 20 September 1980).

The applicants must submit their application documents specified below to İKSV by either registered post or email by 23 April 2012 end of work hours. The application materials will not be returned.

İKSV reserves the right to audio-visually record and broadcast all rounds of the competition. 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.

a) Application form fully completed and signed
b) Copy of current passport or valid identity card
c) 2 passport photos (headshot, 6 x 9 cm)
d) Professional résumé in English
e) Documentation of educational status, performances, awards, etc.
f) Copy of the bank receipt for the payment of 50 € application fee **

** APPLICATION FEE: The candidates pay a fee of 50 € at the time of application. This amount is non-refundable under any condition. It should be deposited to the following bank account.

APPLICATION ADDRESS:
İstanbul Kültür Sanat Vakfı
Sadi Konuralp Caddesi No: 5
34433 Şişhane - İstanbul / TÜRKİYE
T: +90 212 334 07 34
F: +90 212 334 07 05

info@leylagencer.org

PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS
* BERLIN * LONDON * VIENNA * MADRID * MİLAN * İSTANBUL *

The candidates will be informed of the venue, date and time of the preliminary auditions by email.

The preliminary auditions are held before an international jury. The candidates perform with piano accompaniment the two opera arias of their choice (as they have specified in their application form) in the original language and key, and with the recitatives if there are any.

The results of the preliminary auditions will be announced in the first half of June 2012 and the candidates will personally be informed by mail and email.

FINALS
* İSTANBUL *

The finals will be held before the full jury; with piano accompaniment in the quarter and semi finals and with orchestral accompaniment in the final round.

Registration and Draw:
The contestants are required to register at the Competition Secretariat at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on 15 September 2012 Saturday between 13:00 and 17:00 hours. There will be a draw at 18:00 to determine the order of stage appearance in the quarter finals.

Those contestants who fail to register are disqualified from the competition, except for force majeure where the Secretariat is duly notified. For those contestants who fail to attend the draw, the Competition Secretary acts on their behalf. A draw is held before each round.

The contestants present their official list of arias at registration. The official list comprises four opera arias and a solo passage from an oratorio or cantata. All works are to be sung from memory. The contestants are not allowed to make any changes in the list once it is submitted; the jury solely reserves the right to make any changes in the official list of arias only if required.

Quarter Finals:
The quarter-finals are held at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall as a non-public event. The contestants perform with piano accompaniment an aria of their choice from their official list along with another chosen by the jury from the same list. The contestants who get at least the minimum passing score as set by the jury advance to the semi-final.

Semi-Final:
The semi-final is held at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall as a public event. Each contestant performs with piano accompaniment two arias chosen by the jury from the official list.

Final:
The final is in the form of a concert open to public, with the Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra on stage to accompany the finalists, at Hagia Eirene Museum. Each finalist performs an aria priorly chosen by the contestant and approved by the jury.

The finalists will rehearse on 19 September 2012, Wednesday.

The Organisation Committee reserves the right to cancel or postpone the competition due to force majeure such as war, civil and political disturbances, epidemics, flood or fire.

All finalists receive certificates. Prizes are as follows: ***

FIRST PRIZE: € 12,500
SECOND PRIZE: € 7,500
THIRD PRIZE: € 3,500
ACCADEMIA DEL TEATRO ALLA SCALA SPECIAL AWARD: Three-month scholarship at the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala.

*** The jury reserves the right not to bestow a first prize. In case of a tie, the prize is divided equally between those certain prize holders.

Every candidate is free to enter the preliminary auditions with her/his own accompanist. The Organisation Committee provides an accompanist in the preliminary auditions only if the candidate specifies a request on the application form and this extra service is subject to a fee.

The Organisation Committee provides the accompanists for free for the entire final series in İstanbul. Each contestant is entitled to a 20-minute rehearsal with the accompanist before each round; the time and order of the rehearsals are arranged according to the stage appearance order.

The contestants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and daily expenses. The Organisation Committee can send a list of hotels upon request.

The organisation provides daily commute between central points and the rehearsal and competition venues.

The organisation covers the cost of two nights' accommodation (bed & breakfast) for the finalists.