Leyla Gencer voice competition concludes

ISTANBUL

The 8th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) together with the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, concluded on Sept. 11 with the finals and award ceremony at the Süreyya Opera House in Istanbul. 

The final of the competition began with Giuseppe Verdi’s “I Vespri Siciliani Overture” by the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Antonio Pirolli. Following the performance of the orchestra, seven finalists, accompanied by the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, performed their arias before the jury and the audience. 

Marigona Qerkezi won first prize, Jonathan Winell came second and Hubert Zapior and Deirdre Judith Angenent shared third place. A total monetary award of 23,500 euros was given to the winners of the competition.

Qerkezi won the Accademia Teatro alla Scala Special Award and was rewarded with a three-month scholarship at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, while Winell won the Polish National Opera Award and will have a chance to perform in a production of the Polish National Opera and Zapior won the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Program Special Award and rewarded with a four-month training program in London. 

The winner of the Leyla Gencer Audience Award, Ayşe Şenogul, who was granted the award by the votes of the audience, will perform in a concert at the 44th Istanbul Music Festival.

This year, the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition’s jury was headed by Italian soprano Luciana Serra. David Gowland (Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Programme Artistic Director), Yekta Kara (Chief Director of Turkish State Opera and Ballet), Izabela Klosinska (Casting Director of Opera Narodowa), Antonio Pirolli (Conductor), Alain Surrans (Director of Opéra de Rennes) and Gianni Tangucci (the Artistic Director of Opera di Firenze Accademia del Maggio) were the other members of the jury.