Lirica London Voice Competition 2026

Lirica London Voice Competition in collaboration with the London City Philharmonic.

  • The application deadline is 24 February 2026
  • The winners will be announced by 28 February 2026
  • Cash prizes and a Concert with the London City Philharmonic on 9 May 2026 at St James Paddington in central London. 

Competition Rules

The competition is open to applicants of any nationality, with no age limit.

Applicants must submit the following to info@liricalondon.co.uk
• A short CV
• A copy of their passport or ID
• Video link(s)
• Proof of payment

Each applicant must provide a video recording of one or more arias from the repertoire list below. Recordings may feature orchestra, piano, backing track, or MIDI accompaniment. Performances may be with score or from memory (there is no advantage to performing from memory). Applicants may submit one or multiple video links. Only video links will be accepted (password-protected links are allowed). Videos requiring download will not be accepted.

Application deadline: 24 February 2026.
Winners will be announced online and contacted by email by 28 February 2026.

When applying, please specify one or more arias (or duets) from the repertoire list in order of preference, indicating which you wish to perform if selected as one of the winners for the concert on 9 May 2026 in London. Multiple winners may be selected to perform with the London City Philharmonic on that date.

Applicants may change or update their repertoire preference after submitting their application, provided changes are made no later than 24 February 2026.

If you wish to perform an aria not included in the repertoire list, you may submit a request to info@liricalondon.co.uk.

 

 

Prizes & Performance Opportunities

1st Prize
• £1,000 (GBP)
• Solo performance engagement at St James, Paddington, London with the London City Philharmonic on 9 May 2026, performing one aria or a selection of arias chosen from the repertoire list below.
• The concert will be professionally recorded with high-quality audio and video.

If the 1st Prize winner is unable to perform on this date, the performance opportunity will be offered to the 2nd Prize winner. The 1st Prize winner will then receive an alternative performance engagement during the 2026/2027 or 2027/2028 season.

Music agents will be invited to attend the concert, offering a valuable platform for emerging artists to gain visibility and potential professional representation.

2nd Prize
• £500 (GBP)
• Official diploma

3rd Prize
• £300 (GBP)
• Official diploma

Additional Opportunities
All semi-finalists will receive an official diploma.
Furthermore, 2nd and 3rd Prize winners as well as selected semi-finalists may be invited to perform with the London City Philharmonic during the 2026/2027 or 2027/2028 seasons.

Jury

• International panel of distinguished judges
• Members of the London City Philharmonic
• Olsi Qinami  Conductor, London City Philharmonic

Repertoire List of Opera Arias

  • V. Bellini: I Puritani
  • V. Bellini: La sonnambula
  • ​V. Bellini: Norma
  • G. Bizet: Carmen​
  • B. Britten: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • B. Britten: Billy Bud
  • B. Britten: Peter Grimes
  • B. Britten: The Turn of the Screw
  • F. Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur
  • G. Donizetti: Don Pasquale
  • G. Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore
  • ​G. Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor
  • U. Giordano: Andrea Chénier
  • C. Gounod: Faust
  • ​C. Gounod: Roméo et Juliette
  • R. Leoncavallo: Pagliacci
  • R. Leoncavallo: La Bohème
  • P. Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana 
  • P. Mascagni: L’amico Fritz
  • J. Massenet: Manon
  • W. A. Mozart: Così fan tutte
  • ​W. A. Mozart: Die Zauberflöte
  • W. A. Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail
  • W. A. Mozart: Don Giovanni
  • W. A. Mozart: La Clemenza di Tito
  • ​W. A. Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro
  • G. Puccini: Gianni Schicchi
  • G. Puccini: La bohème
  • G. Puccini: Madama Butterfly
  • G. Puccini: Tosca
  • ​G. Puccini: Turandot
  • H. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
  • G. Rossini: Guglielmo Tell
  • G. Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
  • G. Rossini: La Cenerentola
  • ​G. Rossini: La gazza ladra
  • C. Saint-Saens Samson and Delilah
  • G. Verdi: Aida
  • G. Verdi: Attila
  • G. Verdi: Don Carlo
  • G. Verdi: Falstaff
  • ​G. Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani
  • G. Verdi: Il Trovatore
  • G. Verdi: La Traviata
  • G. Verdi: Macbeth
  • G. Verdi: Nabucco
  • G. Verdi: Otello
  • G. Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera
  • G. Verdi: Rigoletto
  • G. Verdi: Simon Boccanegra

Payment details (Bank transfer or Paypal)

Application Fee

£160 (GBP)
All bank charges must be covered by the applicant.
The application fee is non-refundable.

All payments must be made in full and in GBP to the account details below:

Account name:  London City Philharmonic
Sort Code: 40-38-18
Account number: 52070669

(IBAN) International Bank Account Number:  GB08HBUK40381852070669

(SWIFT Code) (BIC11) Bank Identifier Code:HBUKGB4112V

Bank Address:

HSBC Bank, 281 Chiswick High Road

Post code W4 4HJ London, UK