The final results:
Women:
1st prize, €15,000: Svetlina Stoyanova, Mezzo-Soprano (Bulgaria, born in 1991)
2nd prize, €10,000: Emily D’Angelo, Mezzo-Soprano (Canada, born in 1994)
3rd prize, €5,000: Zlata Khershberg, Mezzo-Soprano (Russia, born 1990)
Men:
1st prize, €15,000: Cho ChanHee, Bass (South Korea, born in 1992)
2nd prize, €10,000: Johannes Kammler, Baritone (Germany, born in 1988)
3rd prize, €5,000: Mingjie Lei, Tenor (China, born in 1988)
The Audience Award went to Samuel Mariño, Soprano (Venezuela, born in 1993). As is the case at every NEUE STIMMEN competition, the vote to award the People's Choice Award was one of the evening's high points, eagerly awaited by everyone in the audience.
Liz Mohn, president of NEUE STIMMEN and vice-chairwoman of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board, expressed how proud she is of the NEUE STIMMEN success story. "Over the last 30 years, the NEUE STIMMEN International Singing Competition has become one of the world's best-known opera competitions. It has also produced the most careers. For us, it's especially important not only to discover new talents, but to provide them with ongoing advice and support over the long term. The help we give young singers doesn't end with the competition, master classes, concerts and seminars. We remain in contact with most of the participants," Mohn said. "Like their peers in the past, this year's winners have the chance to realize their dream of becoming a professional singer."
In keeping with its motto of "Creating Careers," NEUE STIMMEN has been providing ongoing, long-term support to up-and-coming singers for years. Since 2015, seminars have been offered during the final round that focus on self-marketing, communication, networking and career planning. Young talents entering the world of opera also face the challenges stemming from society's increasing globalization and digitization. A study has therefore been commissioned that will assemble data on the educational and employment situation of young opera singers for the first time. Based on the results, an online course will be developed in cooperation with music conservatories in German-speaking countries. The course will reflect the specific needs of young singers and will be available free of charge to all interested parties.
About NEUE STIMMEN:
The NEUE STIMMEN International Singing Competition was initiated in 1987 by Liz Mohn, president of NEUE STIMMEN and vice-chairwoman of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board. It is considered one of the most important international events for young opera talents. The competition allows up-and-coming singers to make contact with jury members, opera house managers and agents. The NEUE STIMMEN competition has already helped many young artists launch major careers, including the internationally renowned singers Christiane Karg, Nathalie Stutzmann, Marina Rebeka, Michael Volle, René Pape and Franco Fagioli.
Additional information on the NEUE STIMMEN competition and past press releases are available at: www.neue-stimmen.de/en and under #neuestimmen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.