The Strauss Vocal Competition, a flagship event of the INTERNATIONALES MUSIKFEST IN WIEN, is dedicated to discovering and nurturing outstanding vocal talents, bringing the magnificent voices from Vienna to the world stage.
Total Prize Pool of €13,500
The total prize pool for this year’s competition series at the INTERNATIONALES MUSIKFEST IN WIEN reaches an impressive €13,500 — a generous tribute to outstanding musicianship.
Become a Contracted Artist & Embark on European Tours
Winners of the Grand Agency Award will be signed for three solo recitals across Europe, along with recommendations for auditions at several prestigious opera festivals.
Two Concerts for participants
Kunstlied, Liedkunst
Opera Serenissima
Closing Concert at the Golden Hall
A grand finale in collaboration with the Vienna Modern Orchestra (VMO), performing Strauss’s timeless masterpieces.
Professional Opera Career Planning
The jury is composed of renowned European vocal professors, singers, conservatory rectors, opera house directors, opera conductors, stage directors, agents, and music directors. Every contestant will receive expert feedback and personalized guidance, with valuable opportunities for exposure and collaboration on professional opera stages.
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I. Competition Overview
I-1 Preliminary Round
Video Submission
Registration Dates: May 1, 2025 – June 20, 2025
Results Announcement: June 25, 2025
I-2 On-site Competition
Competition Date: July 30, 2025
II. Competition Categories
II-1
The competition is divided into two categories: Student category and Artist category. The age requirements are as follows:
• Student Group A: 18 to 22 years old
(Date of birth: July 31, 2003 – July 30, 2007)
• Student Group B: 22 to 26 years old
(Date of birth: July 31, 1997 – July 30, 2003)
• Artist Group: 26 to 35 years old
(Date of birth: July 31, 1988 – July 30, 1997)
II-2
All applicants must provide valid identification at the time of registration to verify that they meet the age requirements for their respective category.
III. Application Requirements
III-1
Registration Period: May 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025
III-2
Registration Method:
- All participants must complete the official online registration and submit the required application materials.
- Only online registration will be accepted by the organizing committee.
- At the time of submission, applicants must upload a video performance link (for the preliminary round) along with valid identification and other required documents.
- Incomplete or late submissions will result in disqualification.
III-3
Repertoire changes are not allowed within one month prior to the competition. If the performance repertoire at the competition differs from the repertoire listed in the application, no score will be given.
III-4
If the chosen repertoire does not meet the competition requirements, the participant will not receive a score.
IV. Repertoire Requirements
IV-1
Preliminary Round – Video Submission
All applicants must submit a video recording featuring two contrasting works in different languages:
- One opera aria or oratorio excerpt (Language: Italian, German, French, or English)
- One German art song (Lied)
Video Requirements：
- Videos must be recorded in one take without any editing or post-production.
- Piano accompaniment or a cappella versions are allowed.
- Backing tracks are not permitted.
- The video should present a faithful and unaltered performance.
IV-2
On-site Competition
Each participant is required to prepare and perform three stylistically contrasting works live on stage, including at least the following:
- One opera aria or oratorio excerpt (may be the same as submitted in the preliminary round)
- One German art song (Lied)
- One freely chosen piece
Important Information：
- The repertoire must include at least two different languages and must be performed in the original language.
- Accompaniment:
Professional piano accompaniment will be provided at the competition venue. Contestants may also bring their own accompanist.
- Strauss Prize:
A special Strauss Prize will be awarded at this year’s competition. To be eligible, each contestant must perform at least one work by Johann Strauss. This piece may count as one of the required works for the competition, and any contestant who meets the repertoire requirements will automatically be eligible for the Strauss Prize.
IV. Prize and Award
IV-1 Base Prizes
Student Group
- First Prize: 300 EUR
- Second Prize: 200 EUR
- Third Prize: 100 EUR
Artist Group
- First Prize: 800 EUR
- Second Prize: 500 EUR
- Third Prize: 300 EUR
Important Information：
To receive the corresponding prize, participants or ensembles must meet the following score requirements:
- First Prize: 95 points and above
- Second Prize: 93 points and above
- Third Prize: 92 points and above
If the score of a participant or ensemble does not meet the required threshold, they will not be eligible for the prize money.
In exceptional cases, if a participant demonstrates outstanding performance, the jury may decide at their discretion whether to award additional prizes or adjust the prize distribution.
IV-2 Agency Grand Prize: €800
The Agency Grand Prize is provided by DDDW-Classical and offers the winner a unique career development opportunity. As a special award, the winner will sign a contract with DDDW-Classical and have the chance to participate in three tours during the 9th Vienna International Music Festival （IX. INTERNATIONALES MUSIKFEST IN WIEN）in 2026.
IV-3 Strauss Award: €400
The award aims to honor the great composer Richard Strauss, encouraging participants to showcase their unique musical expression and interpretation through opera, art songs, and other forms. The winner of this prestigious prize will receive a reward of 400 EUR.
IV-4 Additional Prize Pool
An additional prize pool of €1,000 will be established for each competition (Strauss Vocal Competition / Haydn Instrumental Competition / Concerto Competition) to reward exceptionally outstanding contestants.
The distribution of the prize pool will be decided by the judging panel based on the following criteria:
- Overall performance of the contestant
- Presence of exceptionally high-scoring contestants (e.g., those scoring 98+ points)
- The need to provide additional rewards for top performers in other categories
- If there are fewer winners in certain categories, the prize may be redistributed to other categories
Important Information：
- All award winners must complete the prize collection procedure at the award ceremony on August 4, 2025. Failure to collect the prize on time will be considered as a forfeiture, and the prize will be handled according to the decision of the competition committee.
- The prize is non-transferable and must be collected by the winner in person.
- Tax Responsibility：The award winners are responsible for paying any taxes related to their prize money. The competition organizers will not withhold any taxes. Winners must declare and pay the applicable taxes in accordance with the tax laws of their respective regions.
IV-5 Special Performance Award
Based on the contestants’ performances during the competition, the organizing committee will select four outstanding performers: one male tenor, one male baritone, one female soprano, and one female mezzo-soprano. These four winners will perform together with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (VMO) at the Closing Concert on August 5, 2025, at the Golden Hall, performing Strauss’s classic work Vienna Blood - Waltz, Op. 354.
V. Award Ceremony
- Date and Time: August 4, 2025, 09:00
Venue: Wiener Musikverein - Brahms Saal
Address: Musikvereinspl. 01, 1010 Vienna
Important Information for the Award Ceremony：
Dress Code:
1. The ceremony is a formal occasion. All attendees are required to wear formal attire (e.g., evening gowns, suits, etc.).
2. Please maintain a dignified appearance to reflect the solemnity and respect of the ceremony.
Award Ceremony Process:
1. The ceremony will proceed according to the planned schedule, and all award winners will be called up to the stage to receive their prizes.
2. Each award winner will be briefly introduced before taking
Photography and Videography
1. A professional photography team will be present during the ceremony. Please be aware of the photography equipment in the venue.
2. During the ceremony, kindly refrain from using personal cameras or smartphones for photography, in order to avoid obstructing the view of others and disrupting the proceedings.
For Winners Unable to Attend
If a winner is unable to attend the award ceremony in person, the award certificate will not be reissued, and the prize money cannot be collected. Winners are kindly requested to ensure their attendance arrangements are made in advance.
VI. Data Protection
- By registering for the competition, candidates grant the “International Music Festival in Vienna” organizing committee, as the competition organizer and data transmission controller, the right to process their personal data and capture photos/videos of the participants for promotional and display purposes.
- Candidates agree to comply with relevant Austrian laws and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Candidates who are selected for the competition agree to the use of their photos, videos, or other materials for any form of promotion and distribution, including but not limited to: print media, social media, advertisements, etc., without time limitation.
- Selected candidates agree to sign a document stating that they have no objections to the organizer and/or any radio stations, television stations, or websites involved during the competition, broadcasting competition videos via electronic, radio, or television channels, and using their image for promotional and advertising purposes, including but not limited to: awards, collaborations, sponsorships, marketing, etc.
VII. Data Processing
The organizing committee of the International Music Festival in Vienna, as the owner of personal data processing, hereby informs participants in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) that data will be processed in both paper and electronic formats for the purpose of managing the various stages of this announcement.