Unisa National Voice Competition 2025 : University of South Africa
Organization : University of South Africa
Competition Name : 2nd Unisa National Voice Competition
Applicable For : South African citizens
Competition Deadline : 24 February 2025
Competition Date : 8 to 15 July 2025
Competition Venue: Unisa, Pretoria
Prize : R70 000
2nd Unisa National Voice Competition
** The Unisa Music Foundation is proud to announce the long awaited Second Unisa National Voice Competition will take place from 8 to 15 July next year.
Related / Similar Competition :
UNISA Directorate South African Music Scholarship Competition
** The competition is being made possible by a grant from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and additional support from Unisa.
** Similar to the recent national piano competition, this competition will consist of two categories Jazz and Classical.
Eligibility :
** All candidates must be South African citizens. Proof of identity, citizenship and date of birth must accompany the application.
Age limit: 30 years (born on or after 16 July 1986).
** A maximum of twenty (20) competitors will be selected for the competition.
Entry :
** The closing date for entries is 24 February 2025 and applicants will be informed of the selection panel’s decision by no later than 24 March 2025.
** The completed entry form must be submitted with proof of payment of the non-refundable entry fee of R200.
** An additional participation fee of R200 will be payable if the candidate is selected to participate in the competition.
Banking details :
Account holder: University of South Africa – Income
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch code: 010645
Branch name: Sunnyside
Account number: 011554622
Reference: 112200/116700 and your surname
SWIFT code: SBZAZAJJ
The following must be included with the entry form :
a. A recent digital colour photograph (high resolution – 300 dpi), for use in the official competition programme should you be selected to participate.
b. A typewritten ENGLISH copy of your concise biography (no more than 100 words), CV and a recommendation by teacher or professional musicians.
c. The entry fee of R200.
d. A certified copy of your birth certificate or identity document showing your date of birth and nationality.
e. DVD recording: See qualifying round page 7 & 8
Competition Rounds :
** The competition will be held in the Z K Matthews Great Hall, Theo van Wijk Building, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria.
** All rounds are open to the public, except the qualifying round.
The competition consists of a qualifying round and four live rounds :
** Qualifying Round per DVD recording.
** First and Second Round, after which the first elimination will take place.
** A Third (Semi-final) Round.
** A Fourth (Final Round) consisting of a performance with orchestra, or performance with jazz rhythm section.
Voting Procedure :
** Members of the jury may not vote for competitors who are currently their students, or who have been their students in the past five years, or who are related to them.
Prizes :
First Prize (Classical Voice): R70 000
First Prize (Jazz Voice): R70 000
Second Prize (Classical Voice): R40 000
Second Prize (Jazz Voice): R40 000
** Special prizes may also be awarded.
** The finalists will automatically be admitted to compete in the 6th Unisa International Voice Competition 2018.
** The adjudicators are not obliged to award all the prizes if the standard of the competitors does not warrant it.
1. Qualifying Round :
** Each candidate must submit, together with his or her entry, a DVD recording with a time limit of ± 20 minutes.
The recording must be of his or her performance of four (4) works chosen from the prescribed repertoire list as follows :
1.1 An aria from the 17th or 18th centuries;
1.2 Two art songs of which one must be in German;
1.3 An opera or concert aria.
2. First Round :
(Minimum performance time of 20 minutes and a maximum of 25 minutes)
2.1 One aria antica from the 16th, 17th or 18th century sung in the original language;
2.2 One art song from the German, French, Italian, Spanish, Scandinavian, Slavic, Russian, English, American or South African (Afrikaans or African languages) repertoire sung in the original language;
2.3 Any accompanied or unaccompanied song (composed after 1900) sung in the original language;
2.4 Two opera arias of own choice from any period or one opera aria and one operetta aria of own choice.
3. Second Round :
** Minimum performance time of 20 minutes and a maximum of 25 minutes.
A diverse programme that must include the following :
3.1 Two opera arias from different periods and languages;
3.2 Two art songs in different languages;
3.3 One operetta aria.
4. Third Round :
** A recital comprising works of your own choice.
** A minimum of 25 and a maximum performance time of 35 minutes.
** A five-minute interval will be permitted.
** This interval does not form part of the performance time.
Candidates are required to adhere to the following :
4.1 At least half of the programme should include arias or art songs of the bel canto and Romantic periods;
4.2 At least one work must be presented from the following list of composers: Bellini, Boito, Donizetti, Leoncavallo, Mascagni, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Tchaikovsky or Verdi;
4.3 One of the arias presented must have been composed after 1900.
5. Fourth Round :
A recital (minimum 25 minutes and maximum 35 minutes) comprised of works from the list of operas and Lieder. Recital must include at least :
5.1 One opera aria (from the list of operas with orchestra);
5.2 One Lied (from the list of Lieder with orchestra).