The IX Compostela Lírica Singing Contest has officially confirmed 89 applicants from 25 different nationalities, setting the stage for a high-stakes operatic showdown in Santiago de Compostela this December. Organized by the Asociación Amigos da Ópera de Compostela (Adoc), the competition has increased its total prize pool from 7,000 to 10,000 euros for this edition.
The event is reserved exclusively for the opera genre and is open to soloists between the ages of 18 and 35. While the initial pool included 89 singers, a jury will select 30 finalists to participate in the in-person phase of the contest.
El Concurso de Canto Compostela Lírica aumenta los premios hasta los 10.000 euros en su novena edición pic.twitter.com/pbBmLDpG97
Singers from Various Nations Reach the Semifinals
The diverse group of applicants includes 38 singers from Spain, 11 from Portugal, six from China, four from Italy, and three each from Ukraine, Cuba, and Colombia. Other participating nations include Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Canada, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Argentina, Poland, Germany, Romania, the United States, South Korea, Austria, Australia, and Hungary.
The 30 semifinalists selected for the in-person phase, scheduled for December 4 and 5 at the Auditorio de Galicia, include:
- Rosa Maria Abella (Soprano, Spain)
- Matheus Alvarenga (Baritone, Brazil)
- Elisa Bastos (Soprano, Portugal)
- Sarah Bacani Coronado (Soprano, USA)
- Shengxin Cheng (Baritone, China)
- Sarai Díaz (Soprano, Cuba)
- Yasmin Forastero (Mezzosoprano, Argentina)
- Lucia Garcia Guerrero (Soprano, Spain)
- Marlin González (Soprano, Colombia)
- Polina Glusniova (Soprano, Lithuania)
- Salomiya Ivanchuk (Mezzosoprano, Ukraine)
- Seongbin Kang (Tenor, South Korea)
- Chelsea Kolic (Soprano, Canada/Croatia)
- Henrique Lencastre (Tenor, Portugal)
- Jinhyeok Lee (Baritone, South Korea)
- Paola Leguizamón (Mezzosoprano, Colombia)
- Paula Malagón (Soprano, Mexico)
- Lina Malgieri (Soprano, Italy)
- Maria Mendes (Soprano, Portugal)
- Pedro Nieves (Tenor, Venezuela)
- María Patak (Soprano, Spain)
- Robin Park (Baritone, Germany)
- Manhan Qi (Soprano, China)
- Dailis Roche (Soprano, Cuba)
- Silvia Sequeira (Soprano, Portugal)
- Miriam Silva (Soprano, Spain)
- Julia Valero (Soprano, Spain)
- Carlos Varela Hernani (Baritone, Spain)
- Zheng Wang (Bass, China)
- Yingying Zong (Soprano, China)
Prizes and new awards
The first prize winner will receive 5,000 euros and a package featuring a paid performance with the Real Filharmonía, a performance at the Festival du Luberon in France, and a performance during the Temporada Lírica de Oviedo. The winner will also receive vocal coaching from Maciej Pikulski in Paris. A new "Premio del Público" (Audience Award), sponsored by Viaxes Zonda, will also be awarded alongside a diploma and 500 euros.
Admission for the final on December 5 is priced at 5 euros, with all proceeds being donated to the Fundación Andrea.
Amigos da Ópera de Compostela eleva a 10.000 euros los premios del concurso de canto Compostela Lírica: convocatoria ya abierta https://t.co/dLnbMUfEnT
Arturo Reverter Leads the Judging Panel
The judging panel is led by music critic Arturo Reverter. Other jurors include Patrik Canac, Juan Antonio Cuéllar, Maciej Pikulski, Graziela Valceva Fierro, and Celestino Varela, with José María Miranda serving as secretary.
This edition follows the 2025 competition, where Czech soprano Lada Bocková took first place, followed by Nazar Mykulyak and Daniel Kfelir. In that previous year, the award for Galician voices was not granted, and the contest featured 80 soloists from 22 countries.
The competition is supported by the Xunta de Galicia, the Concello de Santiago, the Deputación da Coruña, and the Fundación José Otero-Carmela Martínez.
