Rules and Regulations
Evaluation Criteria
·Voice Quality
·Singing Technique
·Musical Presentation
·Artistic Personality
Eligibility
The Competition is open to singers of all nationalities who are dedicated to opera performance.
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 (born between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2007).
Competition System
The Competition consists of three rounds: a preliminary video audition, followed by the semi-final and final rounds to be held on-site.
Round 1 – Preliminary: Video Audition
Date: March 31, 2025 – April 30, 2025, with Preliminary Round results to be released on June 1, 2025
In the Preliminary Round, the jury will evaluate the videos submitted by applicants to select qualified contestants for the next round.
Round 2 – Semi-final
Date: July 5-6, 2025
Venue: He Luting Concert Hall, Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Semifinalists may choose a Pianist-in-Residence as their accompanying pianist or bring their own piano accompanist, with relevant expenses to be covered by themselves. In this round, the jury will score contestants’ live performance onsite, and the running order will be determined by the Organizing Committee.
Round 3 – Final
Date: July 11, 2025
Venue:
Gulangyu Concert Hall, Xiamen
Finalists may choose a Pianist-in-Residence as their accompanying pianist or bring their own piano accompanist, with relevant expenses to be covered by themselves. In this round, the jury will score contestants’ live performance onsite, and the running order will be determined by the Organizing Committee.
Application Guide
Applicants must complete and submit the Registration Form, along with the following materials via email to 2025@syoperahouse.cn.
Required Documents
(1) A scanned copy of the passport information page for international applicants (clearly displaying the participant’s name, date of birth, nationality, and passport validity period), or photographs of both the front and back sides of the Chinese ID Card for Chinese applicants, in JPEG format;
(2) A biography of the participant;
(3) A digital photograph in JPEG format, showing a half-length, front-facing portrait against a white background, sized at 3.5 cm (W) × 5.3 cm (H);
(4) Video recordings of two arias, in MP4 format.
* Video Guidelines
(a) The two arias must be selected from different operas and represent contrasting musical styles. Contestants are required to perform complete pieces from memory in their original key and language.
(b) Video submissions for the Preliminary Round must be specifically recorded for this competition. High definition is required, with a recommended resolution of 1080P or higher. The videos must show the contestants’ full body, with their face clearly visible. Each aria should be recorded as a separate video, filmed in a single continuous take without any edits.
(c) Using pre-recorded tracks for piano accompaniment is not permitted.
(d) Each video should be titled as follows: “Participant’s Name + Piece Title + Recording Location + Recording Date.”
(e) You should upload it to a network disk and send the corresponding link via email.
Repertoire for the Semi-final and Final Rounds
* Semifinalists must select five arias according to the following requirements:
(a) Choose three arias from three of the five categories listed below, one from each category:
? Category 1: 1600 – 1750
? Category 2: 1750 – 1830
? Category 3: 1830 – early 20th century
? Category 4: 20th century
? Category 5: (Original) Chinese Opera
(b) The remaining two arias must come from different operas (operetta is permitted) in any category.
? The five arias may include pieces that have already been performed in the Preliminary Round. These selections will be used for the Semi-final and Final Rounds.
? In the Semi-final Round, contestants will perform two of the five arias they’ve chosen, and the Jury may designate a third piece.
? In the Final Round, contestants will sing two of the five arias they’ve chosen, but pieces that have been performed in the Semi-final Round cannot be used again.
? Contestants are required to perform complete pieces in their original key and language, accompanied by piano.
? For all in-person rounds, including the Semi-final and Final Rounds, as well as the concert, the standard pitch should be set to 440Hz, even for arias from the Baroque era.
Note:
? Please ensure that all information and materials submitted with your application are accurate and truthful. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to disqualify any applicants who provide misleading or false information.
? Submission Deadline: Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to extend this deadline.
? The list of semifinalists will be announced on June 1, 2025, through the official platform.
Additional Information
? The Jury holds the final decision on the competition results.
? The running order for the Semi-final and Final Rounds will be determined by the Organizing Committee.
? The Organizing Committee has the full right to record (audio and/or video) and/or broadcast all activities throughout the competition. Contestants’ rehearsals and performances for the Semi-final and Final Rounds may be recorded.
? Contestants are responsible for their transportation and accommodation expenses, although the Organizing Committee may provide hotel recommendations. Contestants who advance to the Semi-final Round must register at the designated site by July 3, 2025.
Prizes and Awards
Prize
Quota
Amount of Cash Prize (Before tax)
First Prize
1
RMB 80,000 yuan
Second Prize
2
RMB 50,000 yuan
Third Prize
3
RMB 20,000 yuan
Honorary Mention
3
RMB 5,000 yuan
Prizewinners will have the opportunity to be included in the “Opera Singer Reserve Program of the Shangyin Opera House” and the “Gulangyu Star Program”. This includes the possibility of performing in the opera productions of the Shangyin Opera House in 2026 and beyond, subject to separate agreements, as well as participating in the Gulangyu Music Festival.
Applicants Registration Process
Please follow the steps indicated below:Download “Registration Form” -> Send Registration Form and the link of videos to mailbox -> Fee Payment
? Step 1 – Download “Registration Form” by scan this QR code
Registration Form(QR code)
? Step 2 –Applicants must truthfully complete the "Registration Form" and your video links, and then email it to the Organizing Committee's designated address 2025@syoperahouse.cn to submit their application materials.
? Step 3 – Fee Payment: Scan the Wechat QR code below to pay the entry fee of RMB 300. The application process is now complete.
Payment(QR code)
Opera Singer Reserve Program of the Shangyin Opera House
In its commitment to excellence in arts, the Shangyin Opera House has proudly launched the “Opera Singer Reserve Program.” This initiative aims to systematically discover and train exceptional opera singers, ultimately creating a dynamic pool of top talent for future opera productions and stage performances.
This Program provides young singers with valuable opportunities to engage deeply with the Shangyin Opera House, where they can realize their full potential, whether in leading roles, supporting roles, or as standbys. In addition, through its strong partnerships with renowned opera houses, leading artist agencies, esteemed music institutions, and major art organizations in China and around the globe, the Shangyin Opera House is committed to fostering an enriching environment where young artists can thrive and shine on the international stage.
Through the “Opera Singer Reserve Program”, the Shangyin Opera House earnestly invites dedicated young singers with a passion for the art of opera to join in this meaningful endeavor. Together, we aspire to elevate the global influence of Chinese opera and shape a brighter future for this cherished art form.
Jury
Jury Chairman
Liao Changyong
（Slide down to view more）
Liao Changyong, an internationally renowned baritone singer and a respected vocal music educator, enjoys the reputation of the “No.1 Chinese baritone in the world.” He received tutelage from veteran vocal instructors, Professor Luo Wei and Professor Zhou Xiaoyan. In addition to his role as a professor, academic leader, doctoral supervisor and President of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Mr. Liao also holds several prominent positions, including member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, member of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, Vice Chairman of the China Musicians Association, and Chairman of the Shanghai Musician Association.
Mr. Liao’s exceptional talent has garnered him numerous awards in prestigious competitions both domestically and internationally. Notably, in 1996 and 1997, he achieved an outstanding feat by winning top prizes at the 41st Toulouse International Singing Competition in France, Plácido Domingo’s OPERALIA (the World Opera Competition), and the Queen Sonja Singing Competition in Norway. These victories marked the beginning of his illustrious international career as a professional vocalist.
As an active performing artist, Mr. Liao has built a remarkable career by performing in dozens of classic operas and hundreds of concerts around the world. He graced the stage alongside legendary musicians like Plácido Domingo, Sergi Giménez Carreras, Ruth Ann Swanson, Valery Gergiev, Lorin Maazel, Hartmut H?ll, Zhang Guoyong, Yu Long, Lu Jia and Li Xincao, collaborating with many of the world’s best orchestras. With a charismatic presence,he has played leading roles in numerous opera classics, including Figaro in The Barber of Seville, the title roles in Rigoletto and Don Carlos,Escamillo in Carmen,Valentin in Faust, Giorgio Germont in La Traviata, Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore, Zhang Zhongliang in original Chinese opera Spring River, and the heroine’s granduncle-in-law inDaughter of the Party. His exceptional artistry and remarkable vocal talent have established him as the No. 1 baritone in Asia and a renowned baritone singer worldwide. In 2000, under the baton of MaestroPlácido Domingo, Mr. Liao starred in Verdi’s Il Trovatoreat the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington. The remarkable success of this production led to him being hailed as a talented singer and an operatic treasure by the Washington Post and the New York Times. He also presented several impressive concerts, including “Voice of China · Celebrating the 2010 World Expo – A Concert by Liao Changyong”, “Liao Changyong Recital: Art Songs of Mao Zedong’s Poems”, “Voice of China · Celebrating the New Year – A Recital by Liao Changyong”, and “Voice of China · Moving the World – A Recital by Liao Changyong”, as well as the concert series “Centennial of Chinese Art Songs” and “Tribute to Classics”.
Beyond the opera stage, Liao Changyong has been dedicated to delivering performances that resonate with the spirit of our times through his magnetic voice and deeply expressive interpretations. His remarkable appearances at grand evening galas such as “Stride Forward, the Nation”, “Heroes” and “The Great Journey” exemplified his dedication. His albums, including “Ombra mai fu” and “Chinese Poem and Calligraphy: Liao Changyong’s Chinese Art Song Recital in Vienna”, have received international acclaim.
As an accomplished educator, Mr. Liao developed an integrated talent training system that combines music education, creation, performance, and research built on the rich educational traditions of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
His leadership roles as head of the He Luting Advanced Research Institute for Chinese Music and as the founder and director of the China Vocal Music Art Research Center have been deeply rooted in his long-term commitment to developing and promoting Chinese vocal music art. In 2018, Mr. Liao launched the Chinese Art Song International Singing Competition, which has become an internationally influential event over four successful editions. In recent years, he devoted much effort to promote Chinese culture on the international stage by presenting Chinese art song concerts at prestigious venues such as the Elbe Philharmonic Hall in Germany, the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland, the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Concert Hall in Australia, and the Bruce Mason Centre in New Zealand. Moreover, Mr. Liao has facilitated meaningful collaborations with international opera houses, co-producing La Traviata with Kiel Opera House (Germany), The Barber of Seville with Teatro Sociale di Como (Italy), and Carmen with Opéra National de Bordeaux (France). These endeavors have contributed greatly to international cultural exchange.
Mr. Liao has shaped the landscape of Chinese opera and art songs through his dedicated efforts in creation, compilation, and promotion. To elevate Chinese art songs to a recognized canonical genre, he has edited and published a monograph and sheet music series titled “Collection of Chinese Art Songs in 100 Years.” In collaboration with the prestigious music publisher Breitkopf & H?rtel, he published “Three Wishes from a Rose – 16 Selected Chinese Art Songs” that aligns with international standards. This publication has been adopted as a textbook by numerous European music institutions. To further enhance the creation, performance, and research of Chinese opera, Mr. Liao has produced several original operatic works, including Spring River, He Luting, Sunrise and A Love Ballad of Kangding. He has also performed in the celebrated national opera Daughter of the Party, staged by the National Center for the Performing Arts in China. Most recently, the new production of The Long March Suite, presented by the SHCM with Liao ChangYong as producer and artistic director, has become a big hit, drawing public interest towards patriotic classics.
In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Mr. Liao has been awarded a number of honors and accolades, including the National May 1st Labor Medal, Baosteel Elegant Art Award, Best Actor in a Supporting Role Award of the Magnolia Awards, Star of Art of the 1st China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Pace-setter in the New Long March of Shanghai, Top Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Shanghai, Shanghai Model Worker, National Artist Award, National Young Artist Award, Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award from the Committee of 100, Outstanding Artist Award from the New York State Assembly, Belgian Oriental Art Knights Medal, Outstanding Achievement Award of the 6th Shanghai Literature and Art Awards, Top Ten Charming Talents of China, Montblanc Arts Patronage Award, Cultural Ambassador for Telling China’s Story Well, and International Communication Activity award of the Shanghai Silver Dove Award.
Jury Member
Zhang Guoyong
（Slide down to view more）
Zhang Guoyong is an esteemed Chinese conductor and music educator. He graduated from the Conducting Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1983 and received his doctorate in music from Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1997. He successively studied with the Chinese conductor and music educator Prof. Huang Xiaotong and the world-renowned master conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky.
Mr. Zhang is currently a professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and serves as the Music Director of both the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra and the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra. He is also the Vice-Chairman of the China Musicians Association and the Shanghai Musicians Association. Additionally, he is a member of the Four Batches of Talents Program of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Mr. Zhang has been bestowed the honorary title of “A Leading Figure in Shanghai” and has received special government allowances from the State Council of China. Previously, he held the position of Music Director of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and served as the President and Artistic Director of the Shanghai Opera House.
During his impressive artistic career, Mr. Zhang has successfully conducted a diverse range of classical works, encompassing operas, ballets, and symphonic choruses, collaborating with esteemed opera houses and symphony orchestras both in China and abroad. Notably, Mr. Zhang excels in conducting Russian works, and is recognized as one of the best interpreters of Shostakovich’s symphonies in China.
Zhang’s style of conducting is clean, natural and soulful with a passion complemented by a profound rationality, resulting in a strong artistic tension appealing to the audience. With his keen ear, excellent skills, effective rehearsal methods and comprehensive grasp of the structure of the works, he impresses orchestras and audiences every time he takes the stage.
In recent years, he has acted as China’s cultural ambassador in many significant international cultural exchange events, representing the country in the Year of Culture activities co-hosted with the U.S., Russia, Germany, Italy, France, and Latin America.
In 2014, Mr. Zhang conducted the critically acclaimed HD opera film Carmen and Rickshaw Boy, both produced by the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in China.
In 2015, he was invited by the NCPA to participate in the Italian tour of Chinese operas. The following year, he conducted the China Philharmonic Orchestra’s debut performance in Russia, earning widespread acclaim.
In 2006, he was invited as a jury member of the 8th Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition in Spain.
Zhang’s mentor, Maestro Gennady Rozhdestvensky, once told music critics excitedly, “I gave Zhang Guoyong the highest marks in the Moscow State Conservatory’s history. He will always have a place in any orchestra all over the world.”
Jury Member
Markus Eiche
（Slide down to view more）
Markus Eiche is a renowned German baritone and a vocal professor at the Freiburg University of Music. Internationally acclaimed for his rich stage experience and outstanding musical expressiveness, Eiche has performed in leading opera houses and music festivals around the world.
He began his professional career in 1997 with a successful debut as Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Estates Theatre in Prague. He subsequently became a key member of the ensembles at the National Theatre Mannheim and the Vienna State Opera, where he portrayed numerous iconic roles including Don Giovanni, Papageno, Marcello, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Gunther, and Olivier.
From 2012 to 2018, he was actively engaged at the Bavarian State Opera, performing significant roles such as Lescaut, Goloud, Kurwenal, and Beckmesser. As a frequent guest artist, Eiche has appeared on the stages of La Scala in Milan, Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Berlin State Opera, Zurich Opera House, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and the Salzburg Festival. Since 2007, he has been a regular guest at the Bayreuth Festival, taking on major roles such as Wolfram von Eschenbach and Gunther.
Eiche has collaborated with many world-renowned conductors including Riccardo Muti, Christian Thielemann, Kirill Petrenko, Seiji Ozawa, Alan Gilbert, and Marek Janowski, earning widespread acclaim for his performances.
In addition to his operatic achievements, Eiche has made significant contributions to the concert stage, performing works by Bach, Mahler, Beethoven, and Brahms, as well as 20th-century repertoire by Britten, Strauss, and Dallapiccola. He has given recitals in cities such as Barcelona, Zurich, Vienna, and Tokyo.
Since 2016, Markus Eiche has been a professor of vocal studies at the Freiburg University of Music, dedicated to training the next generation of vocal talent.
Jury Member
Shi Yijie
（Slide down to view more）
Shi Yijie, a talented tenor, currently serves as a professor and Vice Dean at the Music College of Hunan Normal University, a distinguished professor at the China Conservatory of Music, and a visiting professor at the School of Music of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.
Shi Yijie is an accomplished Chinese vocalist who has been active around the world. In 2007, he won four gold medals in international vocal competitions. Since then, he has graced the stages of many prestigious opera houses and music festivals globally, including the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Phoenix Opera House in Venice, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Madrid Royal Opera House, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Opéra municipal de Marseille, Opéra de Toulouse, San Francisco Opera, Bolshoi Theatre, Rossini Opera Festival, and Edinburgh International Festival.
Shi Yijie has been recognized as one of the world’s best interpreters of Bel Canto works, celebrated for his compelling interpretations of masterpieces by Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, and Mozart. Over the past decade, he has delivered over 500 performances of 41 operas worldwide, including La Fille Du Regiment, L’elisir d’amore, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, I Puritani, Die Zauberfl?te, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Das Land des L?chelns, The Dream of the Red Chamber, etc. Notably, his excellent rendition of the famous 19 High C in La Fille Du Regiment has established him as one of the leading tenors in the world.
Driven by his profound love for Chinese culture and music, Shi Yijie has been dedicated to promoting Chinese art songs to an international audience. His album Chinese Art Songs, recorded with renowned pianist Chen Sa and released under the Universal Edition and DECCA labels, has been well-received by the fans.
Jury Member
Patrizia Pace
（Slide down to view more）
Patrizia Pace is an acclaimed Italian soprano whose remarkable journey in opera began at just 16 years old with her debut in Genoa in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande. Her international career flourished when she took the stage at Teatro alla Scala in Mozart’s opera Lucio Silla at the age of 19. Since then, she became a resident artist at the theater, where she has brilliantly portrayed iconic roles such as Mica?la in Carmen and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro.
Patrizia Pace rapidly ascended to international fame through her remarkable triumphs in a series of high-profile competitions. In 1983 alone, she conquered three prestigious vocal contests: the Aureliano Pertile Competition, the Gian Battista Viotti International Music (Voice) Competition, and the Maria Callas International Grand Prix. In 1987, she received the Silver Mask Award, whose past recipients included the legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti. In 1996, she added the Golden Mascagni Award to her growing collection of accolades. With her emotive voice and expressive performance, Patrizia has breathed life into over 60 iconic roles. including Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Liù (Turandot), Nannetta (Falstaff), Mica?la (Carmen), Gilda (Rigoletto), and Oscar (Un ballo in maschera), earning prestige particular for her unparalleled renditions of operas by Mozart, Rossini, and Puccini. Patrizia shined on the stages of the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including Teatro alla Scala, the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper), and the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, performing under the baton of celebrated conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, and Herbert von Karajan. Her appearances in landmark productions, such as Don Giovanni conducted by Claudio Abbado, Le Nozze di Figaro conducted by Riccardo Muti, and Mozart’s Requiem with the Berlin Philharmonic, have mesmerized audiences worldwide. Patrizia’s artistic footprint extends across more than 30 countries, participating in the world premiere of numerous operas at venues like the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Bastille Opera House.
As an expert in Baroque music, Patrizia has redefined the boundaries of concert performances. Her recordings of Don Giovanni and Le martyre de saint Sébastien, released under Deutsche Grammophon and other leading international labels, have set new standards in the industry. Since the 1990s, Patrizia has been a prominent figure on the international opera scene, taking on iconic roles such as Mimì in La Bohème and Pamina in Die Zauberfl?te at prestigious venues and festivals, such as the Puccini Festival and the Roman Theatre of Avenches. Her artistry continues to flourish into the 21st century. Renowned for her technical finesse and remarkable versatility, Patrizia Pace stands as an important torchbearer of the Italian bel canto tradition.
Jury Member
Susanna Stefani Caetani
（Slide down to view more）
Susanna Stefani Caetani is the founder of Only Stage.
During her career as a piano soloist, she has played in different continents with orchestras like Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonic, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Norwegian Radio Symphony Oslo, Robert Schumann Philharmonie, Chamber Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, and has worked with conductors like Vladimir Fedosseyev, Arnold Katz, Fabio Luisi, Oleg Caetani, etc. Her repertoire includes classical and modern works, notably Mosolov’s Piano Concerto No.1, Bartok’s First Piano Concerto and both of Shostakovitch’s Piano Concertos. Her recording of Pizzetti’s Piano Concerto “Canti della Stagione Alta” is a world first.
As an accomplished chamber musician, she played in 2005 with the Quartetto di Roma for the Italian President, a concert which was broadcast all over Europe. At the side of his musician career, Susanna has also created different TV programs about classical music and a TV series called Maggio Notes (together with Marco Giorgetti and Massimo Tarducci) about the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, interviewing among many artists Seiji Ozawa, Zubin Metha, etc.
In 2014, Susanna founded the Only Maestros, an innovative management company that catered only conductors. Since February 2017, it has merged into her new management company Only Stage, a bold wide reality in the international music business, where she also takes care of special projects and events for different clients and artists, like Fondazione Pavarotti, Scenario2, Teatro Arcimboldi Milan. She has been a jury member of the Nikisch Conducting Competition and of the SOI Scuola dell'Opera Italiana Fiorenza Cedolins First Virtual Opera Competition. Recently, Susanna has worked on Only Stage First Digital Season “All about Bach! Festival” and has launched the Only Stage International Conducting Competition.
Jury Member
Iris Wei Lanfen
（Slide down to view more）
Iris Wei Lanfen holds a PhD in Drama Aesthetics from the Central Academy of Drama. She is a second-grade stage manager, and a member of the Four Batches of Talents Program of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Drama Production Department at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in China.
Since 2003, Iris has occupied a vanguard position in China’s most significant cultural projects. She has been integrally involved in the artistic production and management of the nation’s premier and largest-scale cultural spectacles in the 21st century. These include the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the 2009 grand gala marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the P.R. China, the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, and numerous large-scale productions of the NCPA.
In 2008, Iris contributed to the artistic tapestry of the Beijing Olympics, masterminding both its spectacular opening and closing ceremonies. As the creative coordinator, she was engaged in the whole process from conception and planning to organization and execution.
Since joining the NCPA as a producer in early 2011, she has presented nearly 90 stage productions spanning opera, drama, ballet and musical theatre. Her impressive portfolio features over 60 international opera masterpieces and original Chinese operatic works, including Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Les Pêcheurs de perles, Simon Boccanegra, Eugene Onegin, Aida, Falstaff, Macbeth, The Long March, The Song of Youth, Summer Rainbow, and Minning Town, produced in collaboration with leading artists such as Francesca Zambello, Wim Wenders, Plácido Domingo, Myung-Whun Chung, Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Chen Xinyi, Tian Qinxin, Wang Xiaoying, and Wang Xiaodi.
Iris served as a visiting professor of music and art management at the Central Conservatory of Music, and offered professional courses at Peking University School of Arts, Peking University Academy of Opera, and Shanghai Theatre Academy. She has participated in academic exchanges at the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Normal University, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Guangzhou Opera House, Shaanxi Performing Arts Center, and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Iris was engaged in a visiting scholar program at the Lincoln Art Center, funded by the Sino-American Cultural Exchange Scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation’s Asian Cultural Council (ACC). She also served as a member of the review panel for the China National Arts Fund projects in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
Iris is the author of the academic monograph titled The Context of Opera: An Analysis of Wagner’s Der Ring Des Nibelungen, which was published by Sanlian Press.
Pianist-in-Residence
Naomi Schmidt
（Slide down to view more）
Naomi Schmidt, Music Director, International Opera Studio, National Theatre Mannheim.
Naomi Schmidt is one of Germany’s most influential contemporary vocal coaches and collaborative pianists. She currently serves as Music Director, Principal Vocal Coach, and Assistant Conductor at the International Opera Studio of the National Theatre Mannheim. Since the 2019/20 season, she has held key responsibilities in vocal training, rehearsal leadership, and musical coordination of opera productions, playing a pivotal role in shaping the studio’s artistic development and reputation.
Born into a German-Japanese musical family in Stuttgart, Ms. Schmidt demonstrated exceptional musical talent from an early age, studying both piano and violin and winning numerous national competitions. She pursued piano performance studies at the Freiburg University of Music and in Kyoto, Japan, before specializing in Lied accompaniment under Jan-Philip Schulze at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hanover.
As a sought-after collaborative pianist, Ms. Schmidt has performed across Europe and Japan, appearing at renowned international festivals such as the Würzburg Mozart Festival, Bruckner Festival Linz, Samos Young Artists Festival, and the Aldeburgh Festival in the UK. Her performances have been frequently broadcast and recorded by media outlets including BR, NDR, SWR, ARD-alpha, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, and Catalonia Radio.
In addition to her performance career, Ms. Schmidt is deeply committed to vocal pedagogy and opera coaching. She has served as vocal coach and music consultant at institutions including the Bavarian State Opera, Frankfurt Opera, and Staatstheater Darmstadt. She is regularly invited as a faculty member and coach for international masterclasses and music academies.
In 2018, she collaborated with conductor Nimrod David Pfeffer on a production of Puccini’s La Bohème in Guatemala, serving as vocal coach and assistant conductor, further demonstrating her versatility in cross-cultural opera production.
As a conductor and music director, Ms. Schmidt has led productions including Fiddler on the Roof (Anatevka), the NTM’s adaptation of Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne, and La voix humaine / La dame de Monte-Carlo, all of which have garnered critical acclaim.
Ms. Schmidt has received numerous prestigious awards and scholarships, including those from the German Music Life Foundation, Baden-Württemberg Foundation, DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), and the Richard Wagner Foundation. In 2025, she was selected for the highly competitive Women Opera Makers Workshop at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, a distinction awarded to only a few exceptional artists worldwide.
Pianist-in-Residence
Hans-Otto Ehrstr?m
（Slide down to view more）
Hans-Otto Ehrstr?m was born into a distinguished Finnish family of artists and musicians, immersed in a rich musical environment from an early age. He studied at the Sibelius Academy and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Lyon, later continuing his training at the Opera Studio of the Zurich Opera House, where he obtained his soloist diploma.
Initially focusing on chamber music and art song, he joined the Finnish National Opera in 2000 and was a regular guest artist at the Savonlinna Opera Festival for nearly two decades. He has also contributed to numerous productions in leading opera houses across Europe, serving as a music coach and rehearsal pianist.
Ehrstr?m’s operatic repertoire spans over 100 works in 10 different languages. Since the 1990s, he has been a sought-after official accompanist at numerous international vocal competitions and is highly respected in the field. His performances have taken him to stages, radio, and television across Europe, Asia, and even the Arctic regions.
Since May 2023, Ehrstr?m has been working as a Repetitor at the Vienna State Opera.
Dress Code for Semi-finals and Finals
Candidates must wear formal concert attire, which will be prepared and brought by themselves.
Schedule for the Semi-final and Final Rounds
Date
Event
Location
July 3
? Semi-finalists registration;
? Announcement of the semi-final rehearsal plan and detailed competition schedule;
? Rehearsal with piano accompaniment.
S
H C M
July 4
Rehearsal with piano accompaniment
He Luting Concert Hall
July 6
Semi-final
He Luting Concert Hall
July 6
Semi-final
He Luting Concert Hall
July 7
Announcement of finalists list
He Luting Concert Hall
July 10
? Finalists registration;
? Rehearsal with piano accompaniment.
Gulangyu Concert Hall, Xiamen
July 11
Final
Gulangyu Concert Hall, Xiamen
Prizewinners will have the opportunity to be included in the “Opera Singer Reserve Program of the Shangyin Opera House” and the “Gulangyu Star Program”. This includes the possibility of performing in the opera productions of the Shangyin Opera House in 2026 and beyond, subject to separate agreements, as well as participating in the Gulangyu Music Festival .
Shangyin Opera House
Slide left and right
Since its opening in September 2019, the Shangyin Opera House has positioned itself as a pillar for the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (SHCM), guided by the vision of creating an academic stronghold imbued with distinctive cultural and educational characteristics under market-oriented operation. Hailed as a first-class opera house with a unique spiritual core, it now functions as a comprehensive platform for the Conservatory’s talent cultivation, stage practice, international exchange, and social services, playing a pivotal role in the SHCM’s journey within the Double First-Class Initiative.
The Shangyin Opera House has staged grand galas in celebration of historically significant events, including the 70th anniversary the founding of the P.R. China, the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and the opening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, as well as the 95th anniversary of the SHCM.
As a prime venue for both the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival and the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, it has actively integrated itself into the Show Life alliance. In recent years, the Shangyin Opera House has staged the premieres of many Chinese compositions, including a new production of The Long March Suite; the patriotic trilogy by SHCM alumni; original operas He Luting and A Love Ballad of Kangding; symphonic suites Ode to Longhua Heroes, and Longhua Spirit; original musical theatre Spring in Shanghai 1949 and Loyalty. It also produced classic operas Die Zauberfl?te and La finta giardiniera in collaboration with Teatro alla Scala, marking the first time these two masterpieces were staged alternately. Alexander Pereira, Artistic Director of Teatro alla Scala, lauded this achievement as a world-class feat.
Through a series of excellent performances, premieres and international productions, the Shangyin Opera House has showcased the SHCM’s achievements in talent training and artistic creation . This consistent excellence has garnered extensive acclaim from the public, firmly establishing it as an iconic cultural landmark in Shanghai.
In alignment with the visionary concept of the “People’s City”, the SHCM renovated and opened a 3,300-square-meter campus space last year, setting an example for universities to open their campuses. Looking forward, the Conservatory plans to expand its openness. The greenery, historic edifices along Middle Huaihai Road, and the Shangyin Opera House itself will be integrated into a larger, more accessible cultural complex. By doing so, SHCM aims to create an inclusive art space for all citizens, contributing significantly to the flourishing cultural landscape of Shanghai.
The stage serves as an invaluable training ground for students. The Shangyin Opera House is a crucible for reforming the SHCM’s art practice and teaching achievement exhibition mechanisms.
It plays a crucial role in Shanghai’s cultural landscape, bolstering the city’s soft power through active participation in the development of the Show Life alliance. Moreover, the opera house is tasked with the mission of spearheading the integrated development of art in the Yangtze River Delta, and bridging the gap between academic advancement and public service. To achieve these goals, in 2022, the SHCM inaugurated a significant campaign titled “Shanghai Conservatory of Music Performance Season, Disciplinary Development Achievement Display Season, and Shangyin Opera House Performance Season”. The season unfolds with eight thematic threads, including “Original Creations”, “Voice of China”, “Jiangnan Style”, and “Timeless Classics”. It features an extensive repertoire of symphonies, chamber music, vocal works, operas, Western and traditional Chinese instrumental performances, creating a comprehensive, year-long, multi-disciplinary art practice ecosystem. Through a series of high-caliber stage productions, the Shangyin Opera House vividly showcases the SHCM’s eminence as an academic powerhouse, a talent incubator, and a leading cultural and artistic brand. This ensures that the fruits of academic development transcend the campus boundaries, reaching out to serve the public and enrich the community.
Gulangyu
Slide left and right
Gulangyu Island is located in the southwest of Xiamen, Fujian Province, spanning an area of 1.88 square kilometers. The island’s allure lies not only in its stunning natural scenery, but also in its rich architectural tapestry and profound musical heritage. A harmonious blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and cultural profundity, Gulangyu has long been hailed as a Garden on the Sea, the World Architecture Expo, a Piano Island, and the Island of Music. In July 2017, the historical international settlement of Gulangyu Island was recognized by UNESCO on its list of World Cultural Heritage sites. Over the years, Gulangyu has evolved into a vibrant cultural center, hosting a diverse array of cultural events, such as the Gulangyu Music Festival, Poetry Festival, Piano Art Week, and New Year Concert. These events serve as a powerful magnet, drawing visitors from far and wide to immerse in the enchanting charm of music.
Gulangyu Concert Hall
Slide left and right
Situated on Gulangyu Island, a national 5A-level scenic spot and a world cultural heritage site celebrated as the Island of Music and a Garden on the Sea, the Gulangyu Concert Hall stands as a paragon of professional music performance venues. The Hall regularly hosts elegant and serious music performances, committed to elevating and promoting the island’s distinct musical culture.
The Gulangyu Concert Hall was inaugurated and opened in February 1987. Spanning over three decades, numerous Chinese and international musicians and art troupes have left their mark here, including Russian-American pianist Gary Graffman, Israeli pianist Arie Vardi, and American pianist Joseph Banowetz, as well as renowned Chinese pianists Fou Ts’ong, Kong Xiangdong, Yin Chengzong, Xu Feiping, Shi Shucheng , Bao Huiqiao, and Zhou Guangren. These luminaries have not only graced the stage with their performances but also shared their profound musical insights as judges and masterclass instructors. Today, the Gulangyu Concert Hall has firmly established itself as a premier art venue in Xiamen to stage classical music performances .
In April 2002, following a meticulous renovation, the Gulangyu Concert Hall reemerged with an elegant environment and unique architectural style. Its main auditorium can accommodate 571 audience members. The hall’s interior, predominantly adorned with wood materials, creates an acoustic environment of exceptional quality that is unrivaled in China. It has earned the admiration of numerous world-renowned musicians, attesting to its sonic excellence. Since then, a series of brand events, including the Gulangyu Music Festival, Poetry Festival, Piano Art Week, and New Year Concert, have been held at the Concert Hall. In September 2022, the Gulangyu Concert Hall underwent another comprehensive transformation. The renovation focused on upgrading stage lighting and sound systems, enhancing both the interior and exterior environment, and strengthening its personnel team.
Today, the Gulangyu Concert Hall hosts close to ten public performances monthly, extending an inviting cultural ambience to tourists and music enthusiasts. In addition, it seeks to introduce high-caliber concerts both from the domestic circuit and international arenas.
Tasked with the mission of perpetuating the musical and cultural heritage of Gulangyu Island, the Gulangyu Concert Hall will continue its efforts to present a broader spectrum of high-caliber music and cultural events, and stage a rich tapestry of outstanding musical performances, so as to enrich the music life of local residents and tourists.
供稿：上音歌劇院鼓浪嶼歌劇比賽組委會(huì)、上音歌劇院、藝術(shù)處
編輯：彭暢
審核：張卓
小音家族
熱門(mén)跟貼