Vocal Competition

Dates and Deadlines:

  1. January 4th, 2027 at 11:59PM : Application due date

  2. Saturday February 27th, 2027: Vocal Division live round takes place at PianoForte Concert Hall in Chicago, IL

Competition rules:

Application Fees:

Application fees are 50$ payable by check or Zelle. Fees are due at the time of application and are non-refundable.

Eligibility:

  • Vocalists must be 18-30 years old to apply (age as of January 15th, 2027)

  • Residency status or school attendance in one of the following states:  IL, IN, MI, WI, MN, IA.

  • Past 1st place winners cannot return to compete again. Other prize winners may return to compete for higher tier prizes. The exception to this rule, is if a 1st place winner is rising from the Junior to the Senior category.

  • Citizenship not required to apply, however, all applicants must have a U.S. Social Security Number. All awards are subject to US taxation; winners who are US citizens or resident aliens will be asked to complete a W-9. Non-resident aliens and others who are not US citizens may still acquire a SSN; please review https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf for more information about how to apply. Please anticipate that this process may take up to 2 months.

Grounds for disqualification:

  • Inability to prove residency status or provide proof of age.

  • Previous winner of an MCW award in the past in their intended division of competition.

  • Videos that have been edited within the performance of any musical selection or that appear not to match the identity of the applicant.

  • Performances in which memorization requirements are not met (i.e., evidence to suggest a candidate is reading music outside of camera view) or inability to perform without music where required in live round.

  • Performances that lack the accompaniment required by the repertoire.

  • Candidates who are late for their time slot, or who do not appear at the final in-person round.

  • Repertoire list that does not meet the repertoire requirements listed below.

  • Unpaid application fees at time of application.

  • Incomplete applications.

Disqualification is entirely at the discretion of MCW. All determinations regarding disqualification are final and cannot be appealed.

Materials needed to apply:

  • General application

  • Proof of age/residency

  • Repertoire list- including what is performed on the audition video, and what is to be performed in the live round.

  • Audition Video

  • Headshot*

  • 250 word bio*

  • Application fee (50$ check or zelle)

*to be used for announcement of winners

Questions? E-mail Us!

Awards:

Senior Vocal division

For women-identifying singers aged 23-30 **Age as of January 15, 2027**

1st place: Harvey Foundation Award, in honor of Lynne Cooper Harvey

  • $10,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

2nd Place: Harvey Foundation Award, in honor of her sister, Virginia Cooper Maier

  • $7,500 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

3rd Place: Farwell Award

  • $4,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

*** Award winners are required to give a short 15-20 min performance at an MCW club concert (club concerts are held on the 3rd Monday of each month from 11am-12pm) as recipient of award. No remuneration is provided for this performance, however the club will pay for your collaborative pianist.

Junior Vocal Division

For women-identifying singers aged 18-22 **Age as of January 15, 2027**

1st Place Edith Newfield Award

  • $5,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

2nd Place Farwell award

  • $3,000

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

*** A short 15-20 min performance required at an MCW club concert (club concerts are held on the 3rd Monday of each month from 11am-12pm) as recipient of award. No additional remuneration is provided for this performance, however the club will pay for your collaborative pianist.

Questions? E-mail us!

Audition repertoire requirements:

VIDEO ROUND:

  • Pick two to three selections that meet the repertoire requirements stipulated below. At least one must be an aria, and one must be an art song.

  • Record each selection in its entirety. Join recordings together to make one submission link or create a youtube playlist to do the same.

  • Audition videos are to be a minimum of 10 minutes, to a maximum of 15 minutes total in length.  

  • Repertoire submitted for the video round does not need to be the same as the live round as long as it meets the repertoire requirements.

  • Videos should be unedited except for the joining of unedited takes to create one video. Applicants may also create a single youtube playlist link to submit multiple pieces under one link.

LIVE ROUND:

  • Applicants’ choices must satisfy the requirements below. 

  • No changes to repertoire lists will be allowed after application is received.

  • Live round audition slots are 15 minutes long. Please take this into account when selecting your lists. Judges will choose from candidates’ rep lists which selections they will hear during the audition window. Candidates will not be notified ahead of time which musical selections they will be asked to perform, however, you may choose your first selection. Judges may or may not hear complete works, or complete lists. 

  • All music shall be performed with accompaniment as applicable (orchestral reductions with cuts, etc.), for all rounds of competition.

If applicants have any questions about whether their chosen repertoire satisfies the repertoire requirements, e-mail the Competition Director at awards@musiciansclubofwomen.org well in advance of deadlines.


Voice - Senior Vocal/Harvey Division

Repertoire must contain 5 (five) selections as specified below that represent the span of music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern Era. One work must be by a Woman-identifying or BIPOC composer.

1. A song or aria in French

2. A song or aria in English

3. A song or aria in German

4. A song or aria in Italian

5.  A song or aria in a language of your choice

NOTE: At least one selection must be a complete oratorio or cantata aria (memorization not required)

Voice - Junior Vocal Division

Repertoire must contain 4 (four) selections in different languages that represent the span of music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern Era. One work must be by a Woman-identifying or BIPOC composer. Acceptable languages are as follows: 

  • English

  • Italian

  • French

  • German

  • Spanish

Apply here!

Contact the Competition Director with any questions about meeting your repertoire requirements: awards@musiciansclubofwomen.org