Vocal Competition

Dates and Deadlines:

Applications due by January 15th at 11:59PM 2026

Vocal Division live round takes place in Chicago at PianoForte Concert Hall on March 14th 2026

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. Applications are due by January 15th 2026 at 11:59PM.

Eligibility:

  • Vocalists must be 18-30 years old to apply (age as of January 15th, 2026).

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

  • Past MCW award winners are ineligible to compete for an award the have already received but may compete for a different award if otherwise eligible (e.g., a 2023 Harvey Award winner cannot receive a 2024 Harvey Award, but may receive a Farwell award, applicants who applied and won in Junior previously may apply in Senior division)

  • 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.

  • Farwell Award Eligibility: Farwell Awards are granted first and foremost based on merit, but are available only to women-identifying persons who have appropriately demonstrated financial need on their application. We encourage everyone to submit a demonstration of financial need as it will expand your chances of winning an award.

    Demonstration of Financial Need is NOT required to apply for awards, but is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. To prove financial need submit: a statement of need (write a letter describing your need for financial aid in detail. 500 word maximum). Include supporting documents that back up your statement. These may include: if you are self-supporting- your most recent federal tax returns, if you are supported by your family- your parents most recent tax returns (please blackout social security numbers), PDFs of documents from your current school’s financial aid office showing the need based financial aid provided to you this year, and any other documents that outline financial need.

Grounds for disqualification:

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

  • Has won an MCW award in the past in their intended division of competition.

  • Videos that appear to 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 appear not to be 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.

  • “No-call no-show”s, or candidates who are late for their time slot, at the final in-person round.

  • Repertoire that does not meet the requirements as stipulated on division page.

  • 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

  • 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)

OPTIONAL BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED:

  • Demonstration of Financial Need

*to be used for announcement of winners

Awards:

Senior Vocal/Harvey division

For women-identifying singers aged 23-30.

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

  • $10,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

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

  • $7,500 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

*** A short 15-20 min performance is 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.

Junior Vocal Division

For women-identifying singers aged 18-22.

Edith Newfield Award

  • $5,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

Nerenberg Award

  • Up to $2,500 award

  • 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.

Farwell Trust Award(s)

Farwell awards are discretionary awards which may be given to singers in either division regardless of whether they are to receive other awards. Winners are determined as worthy of support by the judges as well as members of the Board of Directors. This award amount is flexible and will depend on the amount made available to MCW by the Farwell Trust. Winners will also receive 2 years of MCW membership and may be scheduled for an MCW-hosted public performance.

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.  Applicants are advised to take advantage of the allotment to demonstrate as broad a range of artistry, variety, and technical skill as possible.

  • Repertoire submitted for 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 two videos together to create one.

LIVE ROUND:

  • Applicants should choose a repertoire list that satisfies the requirements stipulated below.

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

  • 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.

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


Voice - Senior Vocal/Harvey Division

Repertoire list must be 4 selections that meet the following requirements:

  1. a French language song or aria from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern era

  2. an English language song or aria from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern era (may be a musical theatre selection)

  3. a German language song or aria from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern era

  4. an Italian language song or aria from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern Era.

Additionally, the following criteria must be met by the chosen repertoire:

  • All repertoire must be memorized unless otherwise noted

  • At least one selection must be a complete operatic aria sung in the original language and key

  • At least one selection must be a complete oratorio or cantata aria sung in the original language and key (memorization not required)

  • At least one selection must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC

  • Works in Latin are not permitted per the requirements above which stipulate applicants may only submit 4(four) selections in the following languages: French, English, German, and Italian

NO SUBSTITUTIONS

Voice - Junior Vocal Division

Overall, the following criteria must be met by the chosen repertoire:

  1. Three or more selections from the list below, sung in their entirety, for a program totaling at least 10 minutes

  2. At least one selection must be in English

  3. At least one non-English language selection must be included

  4. At least one selection by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color) must be included

Choose from the following (memorization required unless otherwise specified):

  • Song in Italian from the 17th-19th centuries

  • Song in German

  • Song in French

  • Song in English (may be a musical theatre selection)

  • Operatic aria sung in the original language and key

  • Oratorio or cantata aria sung in the original language and key (memorization not required)

* * *

Contact the Competition Director with any questions about meeting your repertoire requirements: scholarshipmcw@gmail.com