Applications closed
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Upcoming events, present happenings and past activities

Applications closed

The application period for the NEUE STIMMEN competition 2024 ended on 11 February. The last two days have been incredible and we thank everyone who applied! Our judges, Evamaria Wieser, Sophie Joyce and Brian Dickie, are now starting to evaluate the applications and videos. Once the judges have made their decision, we will let you know if you have made it to the next round of the competition - the live auditions.

Open Masterclasses

On October 25 and 26, those interested will have the opportunity to gain an exclusive insight into the training and development of talented opera singers. The public coaching sessions will take place on the Studio Stage of the Gütersloh Theater. Soprano Annette Dasch will provide artistic instruction to the singers. Movement coach John Norris will show the singers how to work with their bodies to achieve optimal sound results. The Open Masterclasses will take place on Wednesday, October 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. (Dasch) and Thursday, October 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Norris) on the Studio Stage of Theater Gütersloh and are free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

This year's Masterclass has officially begun.
12 singers from 11 nations have come to Gütersloh to participate in the International Masterclass of the NEUE STIMMEN. An intensive week of work awaits them here. Until October 29, the young talents from all over the world will receive individually tailored coaching in areas such as stage presence, performance psychology and media training. Experts from the NEUE STIMMEN network will give them valuable tips for career planning. This year's coaches are: internationally acclaimed soprano Annette Dasch, body and vocal coach John Norris, Dr. Ralph Strehle, director of a program for young singers in Italy, and well-known cultural journalist, presenter and classical music expert Axel Brüggemann. The Masterclass week will be crowned with a concluding concert in the foyer of the Bertelsmann Stiftung. There, the singers can present themselves and their skills to personalities from the worlds of business, culture and society, as well as to the media.  

Prize Winners Concert 2023

On 23 May, our traditional prize winners concert will take place, continuing from the previous competition. This year, for the first time, the concert will be held in the Apollosaal of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
The six prizewinners Francesca Pia Vitale, Carles Pachon, Eugénie Joneau, Sakhiwe Mkosana, Yewon Han and Dumitru Mitu will be able to present their skills once again to a selected audience. They will be accompanied on the piano by Manuel Lange, who is also responsible for the artistic advice of the concert.

Competition 2024

We have news about the next singing competition in 2024.
Here is an overview of the most important dates:

Application phase:
November 16, 2023 to January 31, 2024

Live Auditions:
April to June 2024

Final round:
October 5-12, 2024

As before, all singers of all nationalities who wish to pursue a professional opera career and were born on or after October 13, 1993 may apply. No exceptions will be made regarding the age limit.
Detailed information on the conditions of participation will follow in summer 2023.

Live Audition Season is over

The live auditions for the current 2021/22 competition have been completed. The last audition took place in Milan on December 11. In total, live auditions were held in 12 cities. The final round will take place in Gütersloh from June 26 - 30. The qualified finalists will be presented on our website and social media channels in early 2022.

Applications are closed

The application process for the 2021/22 NEUE STIMMEN competition was open until June 13. Now our jury members Brian Dickie, Sophie Joyce and Evamaria Wieser are screening and judging the submitted application videos. All singers will be informed in late summer whether they are accepted for the live auditions.

Neue Stimmen Connect/Re-Connect

During the past weeks we had contact with Neue Stimmen singers from the 2019 competition on severeal occasions. What a great joy! We laughed together, admired each others hair-do and talked about private and career matters, of course everything via video. In the sense of Connect and Re-Connect, we would like to encourage everyone from the Neue Stimmen family to communicate with us and with each other. Together we are strong.

With experience to success

With the NEUE STIMMEN the Bertelsmann Stiftung creates a big opportunity for young vocal talents from all other the world, to realize a future with a singing career. For 30 years, the Competition has served as a springboard and renowned platform for exceptionally talented next-generation singers. It focuses on discovering and supporting the world's best singers, who receive ongoing, long-term assistance not only during the competition, but also through master classes, concerts, seminars and coaching sessions.

GRAB ATTENTION

Benefit from world wide auditions

NEUE STIMMEN auditions take place in a professional setting. Members of the jury attend in person to seek out emerging talents. Use this to grab attention.

MEET OPERA MOVERS

Benefit from our international partner network

NEUE STIMMEN cooperates with opera movers world wide and keeps close contact to important decision takers in the music business.

GAIN CONFIDENCE

Benefit from our know-how

NEUE STIMMEN has 30 years of experience. Working with long-term partners - our internationally renowned jury, experienced pianists and coaches - we offer challenging and encouraging advice and support.

INHALE CAREER ISSUES

Benefit from long term support and encouragement

In addition to master classes and concerts NEUE STIMMEN offers workshops and individual coaching units dealing with career planning and self marketing issues.

PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM DEFINE OUR WORK

Listening to music and wanting to produce it yourself is part of human nature. You can nurture it – and you have to nurture it!
Reinhard Mohn
Founder Bertelsmann Stiftung