Rules & Regulations

Viva Classic – Vocal Contest 2025

1. General Conditions

2. Application

3. The Competition

4. Programme & Repertoire

5. Prizes

6. Facilities

7. Liability

8. Juridical

1. General Conditions

1.1. The 2025 Viva Classic Vocal Contest (VCVC or “the Vocal Competition”) will take place in

Mönchengladbach and Venlo, from 29 Augustus to 7 September 2025 inclusive.

1.1a. The Vocal Competition in 2025 has one category: Opera

1.2. The Competition is open to singers of all nationalities who:

a. are born on 31 august 1995 or later (max. 30 years);

b. are not younger than 18 years;

c. have completed their professional education or are currently student of a conservatory an

equivalent level of training;

d. are from Limburg or North Rhine-Westphalia (relationship with the region through origin,

residence, study or work, actual or in the past).

1.3. Singers wishing to enter the Competition must take part in the VCVC First Round via YouTube

video recording. Deadline: 29 June 2023.

1.4. All decisions of the jury shall be final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding its

decisions.

1.5. The timetable of the competition is the following (time tables may be subject to change):

Sunday June 29th, 2025

Application deadline First Round (until midnight)

Sunday July 13th

, 2025

Second Round: live audition and two masterclasses in Theater Mönchengladbach

Sunday 13th | 9.00 – 15.00 hrs first group

Sunday 13th | 11.00 – 18.30 hrs second group

Masterclasses by Eva Maria Westbroek (vocal) and Takao Baba (cross-over-lab)

Both masterclasses are currently still subject to confirmation.

Saturday, August 30th, 2025

Rehearsals of the finalists

Sunday, August 31th, 2025

Grand Final at Viva Classic/ Theater De Maaspoort/ Culturalvenue Domani

10.00 – 12.00 hrs | Individual rehearsal with pianist

12.00 – 14.00 hrs | Joint rehearsal with orchestra

15.00 – 17.00 hrs | Final: Live performance with Orchestra by finalists at Viva Classic Live Grand Final

2. Application

2.1. Applications can only be made via the online registration form of the VCL Vocal Competition. The

application is only definite after the Participant has paid the application fee and submitted all

required information and documentation correctly.

2.2. Application and entry fee:

Payment and inscription deadlines for the first rounds are announced on our website.

Application fee is € 25 (incl. free entry for relatives at the Viva Classic Grand Final)

The application fee will not be refunded to Participants who withdraw from the Competition after

acceptance.

3. The Competition

3.1. If the applicant gets through to the next rounds of the Competition, he/she will be informed

about the exact schedule in due course.

3.2. The sequence of performances by the participants will be decided by the Competition.

3.3. The masterclasses in the second round are an integral and compulsory part of the Competition.

3.4. The members of the Jury of the Competition are the following:

• Sef Thissen, Baritone and initiator of Viva Classic Live (chair of the jury)

• Therese Renick, Director Opern- und Konzertagentur Renick

• Fenna Ograjensek, Soprano and cultural entrepreneur, business manager Opera Compact

• A fourth jury member will be announced in due course.

3.5. Participants shall not communicate with jury members during the Competition, nor shall any

other person communicate with the jury members on behalf of any competitor. Violation of this rule

will result in disqualification from the Competition.

3.6. Following the Semi-finals, each candidate not selected to go through to the Finals, may request a

jury report.

3.7. Should a participant be a regular student of one of the members of the jury, the latter will

abstain from the jury deliberations in his or her respect.

3.8. The jury has the right not to grant a prize.

3.9. The Finals are open to the public. Therefore, appropriate evening dress is advised for the Final.

3.10. All participants entering the Competition proper shall provide the organisation with legible (not

annotated) copies of the sheet music of their complete repertoire before August 1st

, 2025 via e-mail.

3.12. The organisation cannot provide photocopying facilities during the Competition.

4. Programme & Repertoire

4.1. The Competition is divided into three Rounds: First Round, Semi-final and the Grand Final.

4.2. Repertoire First Round:

• Video registration of two Arias of own choice in two different languages and two different style

periods, accompanied by piano;

• Short motivation letter explaining the relation of the candidate with Limburg or or North Rhine-

Westphalia through origin, residence, study or work, actual or in the past.

4.3. Repertoire Second Round / Semi-Final:

• Live performance of three Arias accompanied by piano;

• Candidates make a program of six arias, at least three different languages and three different

style periods, of which at least one aria by Mozart;

• During the semi-final, the candidate may start with an aria of their choice and the jury will then

select 2 more arias.

4.4. Masterclasses Semi-Final:

• Participation in one or two Masterclasses will be an integral part of the semi-finals

4.5. Repertoire Grand Final:

• Live performance of two Aria’s accompanied by orchestra

• Candidates who are admitted to the Viva Classic Live Grand Finale may choose one aria from

their Semi-Final program, the second aria from the Semi-Final program will be chosen by the

jury.

4.6. The arias must be performed in the original language and for the various voice types authorized

key.

4.7. The arias must be sung from memory.

5. Prizes

The Competition awards the following prizes:

The Competition 2023 awards the following prizes in cash:

1st Prize € 1,500

2nd Prize € 1,000

3rd Prize € 500

In addition the Competition 2023 awards the following prizes in kind:

Willy Caron Trophy

Special Award for the 1ste place: The “Willy Caron Trophy”, named after the famous opera singer from Venlo.

Viva Classic Live Award

The winner of the Viva Classic Opera Competition is invited to give a solo performance during the

four open-air concerts of Viva Classic Live 2025, held in the historic heart of Venlo. The concerts will

take place from Thursday, September 4 to Sunday, September 7, 2025. The soloist will also receive an

appropriate performance fee. The open-air concert will be recorded and broadcast on Dutch television.

Opera Compact Award

Development prize for the 1ste place: a role in a future Opera Compact production

Opernstudio Niederrhein Award

This part is still to be determined.

Incentive awards

Incentive awards for the 3nd – 5th place: free tickets for classical music and dance performances in

the Maaspoort and Krefeld-Monchengladbach Theatres. Invitation for Masterclasses with the

participants of the Opernstudio Niederrhein. Both in cultural season 2025-’26.

All prizes are currently still subject to confirmation.

6. Facilities

6.1. The Competition will supply the following:

a) Free lunch and refreshments during the semi-finals (live auditions and two masterclasses)

b) Free lunch and refreshments during the finals.

6.2. Prior to the audition of the second round, the participants can dispose of a rehearsal room for

approx. 30 minutes, of which approx. 15 minutes with the pianist who also accompanies the audition

(minor adjustment to the regulations version 1). Prior to the grand finale, there is also room for

rehearsals, both with piano (morning) and orchestra (afternoon).

6.3. The final on Sunday August 31th is freely accessible to the public, including all applicants and

their relatives and friends. The finalist will additionally be invited to the premiere of Viva Classic Live

on thursday September 4th (two free tickets).

6.4. Following the competition, an exploratory interview will be held with each finalist to explore

opportunities for further talent development, performances and engagements in the Euregio RMN.

7. Liability

7.1. The obtaining of appropriate travel documents, visas and insurance is the sole responsibility of

each competitor. The Competition accepts no liability of any kind whatsoever for any personal illness

or injury sustained by the competitor, nor for loss or damage to a competitor’s belongings during

transit or while at the competition. Medical costs, of whatever nature, will not be reimbursed by VCL.

A doctor will be on call for the duration of the Competition in case of any medical emergency.

7.2. Participants must refrain from all professional engagements or duties during the Competition.

Exceptions can only be made at the discretion of the IVC directorate.8. Juridical

8.1. By submitting the application form through the website, applicants state their agreement:

a) with all articles in the regulations;

b) with all ensuing engagements as part of any prize.

c) that all concert and recording engagements obtained by the Competition or its designates as part

of the prizes will not be subject to any fee payable to the prize-winner’s current or future artist

management;

d) that the competition is authorized to record, videotape, film, broadcast, or photograph any

Competition concerts or events for any purpose, without payment of any fee. All rights, including

copyright in such media shall vest in and be owned by the Competition in perpetuity. Photographs or

video recordings cannot be made by any other parties without prior written permission of the IVC.

8.2. All rights reserved. Programme subject to change.

Venues

Theater Mönchengladbach

Odenkirchener Str. 78, 41236 Mönchengladbach, Germany

www.theater-kr-mg.de

Theater De Maaspoort

Oude Markt 30, 5911 HH Venlo

www.maaspoort.nl

Cultuurpodium Domani

Dominicanenplein 15, 5911 KN Venlo

www.domani-venlo.nl

Viva Classic Live

Markt 2, 5911 HD Venlo

www.vivaclassic.nl