Opera Naples Announces Participants in 2026 Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition
January 5, 2026
20 emerging professional singers selected from 430 applicants representing 19 different countries
Opera Naples announces the complete roster of contestants and jury members for the 2026 Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition. 430 singers from 19 different countries applied to compete, and 20 contestants were selected.
Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition
The Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition supports the career growth of young opera singers by offering them the chance to be heard by industry professionals and to compete for artistic contracts. The competition occurs in three rounds at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL on March 13 &14 and in Baker Park in Naples, FL on March 15, 2026.
The competition fosters the career development of promising young opera singers worldwide by providing a platform to be heard by a panel of industry professionals and compete for artistic contracts that will significantly further their careers. This competition is a revival of the renowned Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, which was founded in 1981 and, at its height, had 1,500 applicants from over 25 countries.
Each winner will receive a minimum of $10,000 in contracts to perform roles and/or concerts with Opera Naples as well as other opera houses and presenters within the next two seasons of the award. The winners will perform in the Opera Naples 2027 Festival Under the Stars.
Competition Dates: March 13-15, 2026
Competition Semifinal Round (open to the public):
- March 14 at 1pm
- Florida Gulf Coast University Bower School of Music and the Arts, U. Tobe Recital Hall, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S, Fort Myers, FL, U.S.A. 33965
- $35 tickets available at OperaNaples.org
Competition Final Round (open to the public):
- March 15 at 7pm
- Baker Park, 50 Riverside Circle, Naples, FL, U.S.A. 34102
- $39-$157 tickets available at OperaNaples.org
Contestants:
- Sopranos: Hannah Cho, Laura Fernandez, Alexandra Hotz, Virginia Mims, Tess Ottinger, Sofia Scattarreggia
- Mezzo-sopranos: Ashlyn Brown, Kara Morgen, Grace Ryan, Julianna Smith
- Tenors: Alexander Adkins, Victor Cardamone, SeongBeom Choi, Luke Norvell, Yulin Wang
- Baritones: Alexander Granito, Byung Jun Ko, Yantian Sun
- Basses: Peter Barber, Yoseph Park
Jury:
The jury is presided over by Nicoletta Pavarotti and Ramón Tebar. Additional jury members include international singers, opera directors, casting directors, artistic directors and consultants of renowned opera houses:
- Nicoletta Pavarotti, President of the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation
- Ramón Tebar, Opera Naples Artistic and Music Director
- Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of Bower School of Music and the Arts, Florida Gulf Coast University
- Bruce Ford, Tenor
- John Churchwell, Head of Music of San Francisco Opera
- Dr. Jeanie Darnell, Head of Vocal Studies, Florida Gulf Coast University School of Music
- Marco Vinco, Artistic Director of the Macerata Opera Festival
- Warren Mok, Tenor and Founder/Artistic Director of Opera Hong Kong
- George Andguladze, Bass and Artistic Advisor of Georgian State Opera
