21st Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition – applications accepted until January 30, 2025
The Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition is held in Nowy Sącz every two years. Students and graduates of singing and singing-acting faculties at universities and colleges of music worldwide, born on or after January 1, 1995, can apply to participate in the 21st edition of the contest which will be held between May 17 and 24, 2025. Application deadline is January 30, and the competition rules and regulations are available here.
The total prize pool has not been revealed yet, but we know the first prize will be EUR 10,000.
Named after Ada Sari, the competition was launched in May 1985 on the initiative of prof. Helena Łazarska. It is organized by the Małopolska Cultural Center SOKÓŁ in Nowy Sącz – a cultural institution of the Małopolska Voivodeship. The concept behind the project was to serve as a stage of educating and preparing emerging singers for major international competitions and performances. It was on the Nowy Sącz competition stage that artists such as Piotr Beczała, Andrzej Dobber, Anna Simińska, Aleksandra Kubas-Kruk, Hanna Elisabeth Müller, Miriam Albano, Arnold Rutkowski, Andrzej Lampert and Gabriela Legun began their careers. Małgorzata Walewska has been the Artistic Director of the Competition since 2015.
Ada Sari (1886-1968) performed under the baton of such brilliant conductors as Ruggero Leoncavallo, Pietro Mascagni or Arturo Toscanini. On stage, she sang alongside Beniamino Gigli, Mattia Battistini, Titta Ruffo, Tito Schipa. To develop such a glittering career was no easy task – it involved a lot of conscientious vocal training and an unfrequented route she followed to achieve success. She had begun as a dramatic soprano and later switched to a coloratura soprano, which proved a world-wide phenomenon.