Marilyn Horne Song Competition

The Marilyn Horne Song Competition is an annual competition for participants of the voice and piano programs at the Music Academy of The West.

Name The Competition was launched in 1997 as the Marilyn Horne Foundation Vocal Competition and held by the Marilyn Horne Foundation. In 2010 the foundation’s programs became part of the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall. The Competition is since being held by the Music Academy of the West under its current name.

Overview The competition is held in front of a jury and a public audience. Singers perform three songs, one of which has to be in English. The pianists accompany at least one of the singers. Winning singers and pianists can, but don't have to have performed together. The winners receive a monetary prize and the opportunity to perform in a prestigious venue, among other things. Alt URL

The competition commemorates Gwendolyn Koldofsky, who established the first Department of Accompanying at the University of Southern California in 1947. Marilyn Horne recalls Kodofsky as “Teacher, mentor, accompanist, and my dear friend.” Together they had toured for 10 years.

List of winners +YearSingerVoice typePianistJury members1998Isabel BayrakdariansopranoSpencer Myer1999Dina Kuznetsovasoprano2000Liesel Fedkenheuermezzo-sopranoSpencer MyerNicolai JanitzkybaritoneJi Young Lee2001Ramon DiggstenorNino Sanikidze2002Deborah Domanskimezzo-sopranoJerome TanMarilyn Horne, Michael Benchetrit, Fred Carama, Barbara Hocher, Gayletha Nichols2003Megan Lathammezzo-sopranoCarol WongMarilyn Horne, Michael Benchetrit, Mary Lou Falcone, Barbara Hocher, Robert White2004Daniela Lehnermezzo-sopranoMarie-Ève ScarfoneMarilyn Horne, Michael Benchetrit, Sheri Greenawald, Barbara Hocher, Bill Vendice2005Elaine AlvarezsopranoTamara SanikidzeMarilyn Horne, Michael Benchetrit, Mary Lou Falcone, Barbara Hocher, Brian ZegerIsabel Leonardmezzo-soprano2006Evan Hughesbass-baritoneMarilyn Horne, Mary Lou Falcone, Barbara Hocher, Speight Jenkins, Robert White2007Nadine SierrasopranoKaren Kyung-Eun NaMarilyn Horne, Michael Benchetrit, Thomas Hampson, Barbara Hocher, Ken Noda (absent), Gianna Rolandi2008Simone OsbornesopranoIn-Sun SuhMarilyn Horne, Michael Benchetrit, Barbara Hocher, Kenneth Merrill, and Joan MorrisEdward Parksbaritone2009Jeffrey HilltenorLio KuokmanMarilyn Horne, Mary Lou Falcone, Margo Garrett, Barbara Hocher, Peter KazarasRonnita Millermezzo-soprano2010Megan Marie Hart (as Megan Hart) sopranoSun Ha “Sunny” Yoon2011Karen VuongsopranoSaule Tlenchiyeva2012Tracy CoxsopranoMaureen Zoltek2013John BrancybaritoneMario Antonio Marra2014Michelle BradleysopranoMichael GaertnerMarilyn Horne, Barbara Hocher, Jeremy Geffen, Matthew Epstein, Alexander Neef, Craig Terry2015Benjamin DickersonbaritoneAlden GattMarilyn Horne, Matthew Epstein, Barbara Hocher, Martin Katz, Gayletha Nichols2016Ben LowebaritoneMadeline SlettedahlMarilyn Horne, Margo Garrett, Barbara Hocher, Nicholas Mathias, Emmanuel Villaume2017Hannah Rose KidwellsopranoChristina GiucaMarilyn Horne, Renée Fleming, Jake Heggie2018Kelsey Lauritanomezzo-sopranoAndrew SunMarilyn Horne, Ricky Ian Gordon, Ken Noda, Susanna Phillips2019Sun-Ly Piercemezzo-sopranoChien-Lin LuMarilyn Horne, Michael Heaston, Jennifer Higdon2021Shawn RothtenorAlexander Soloway2022Joanne Evansmezzo-sopranoTzu-Kuang TanAna María Martínez, Sasha Cooke, Martin Katz2023Navasard HakobyanbaritoneBrian Cho2024Mariam Mouawadmezzo-sopranoEric HeadBrenda Rae, Peter Kazaras, Howard Watkins2025Jack BurrowsbaritoneTony StaufferBrad Moore, Ed Parks, Kamala Sankaram

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