Winners
    Rules
    Application
    FAQ
    Finals Concert

  THE LYNDON WOODSIDE SOLO COMPETITION
April 12, 2008

Congratulations to the winners of the 
2008 Lyndon Woodside Solo Competition:
     The Ruth Lopin Nash Award for First Place
          Tyler Duncan, baritone
     The Herbert Cohen Award for Second Place
          Stephen Hegedus, bass/baritone
     The Stanley C. Meyerson Award for Third Place
          Angela Meade, soprano
     The Docia G. Franklin Award for Fourth Place
          Caitlin Lynch, soprano

Please click here for photos

(Applications for the 2009 competition will be available in the fall of 2008.)

Congratulations to the 2008 Lyndon Woodside Solo Competition Finalists
  
  • Fatima Ayazlar, mezzo-soprano
  • Tyler Duncan, baritone
  • Ralf Grobe, bass/baritone
  • Stephen Hegedus, bass/baritone
  • Teresa Herold, mezzo-soprano
  • Dan Kempson, baritone
  • Caitlin Lynch, soprano
  • Angela Meade, soprano
  • Reginald Mobley, countertenor
Please click here to see the concert program.
     
Congratulations to the 2008 Lyndon Woodside Solo Competition Semi-Finalists:
  
  • Wendy Baker, soprano
  • Lara Stevens, mezzo
  • Dan Kempson, baritone
  • Kemper LeCroy-Florin, soprano
  • David Dillard, baritone
  • Fatima Ayazlar, mezzo
  • Winnie Nip, soprano
  • Oliver Mercer, tenor
  • Ralf Grobe, bass/baritone
  • Caitlin Lynch, soprano
  • Ryan Belongie, countertenor
  • Mischa Bouvier, baritone
  • Reginald Mobley, countertenor
  • Teresa Herold, mezzo
  • Tyler Duncan, baritone
  • Patrick Huang, tenor
  • Katherine Wessinger, soprano
  • Nani Kang, mezzo
  • Joseph Turner, baritone
  • Kristen Watson, soprano
  • James O'Farrell, tenor
  • Angela Meade, soprano
  • Stephen Hegedus, bass/baritone
  • Heather Meyer, soprano

In 1975, the Oratorio Society inaugurated an annual Solo Competition, designed to encourage the art of oratorio singing and to give talented young singers an opportunity to advance their careers. The Competition has become international in scope, and well-known in the music world.

Since the Competition's inception, more than 3,400 singers have competed.  The judges have chosen nearly 100 winners, awarding thousands of dollars in cash prizes. In addition, over 65 performance contracts have been awarded to Competition winners to appear in concert with the Society; many have also been awarded contracts with other major musical organizations.

When and Where

The Lyndon Woodside Solo Competition is held in New York City every year during March and April. More than $15,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, along with possible contracts for oratorio performances in New York City.

The deadline for all application materials for the 2008 Lyndon Woodside Solo Competition is February 15, 2008. Rules and procedures are explained in the Application.  For answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit the Solo Comp FAQ page.

Qualifications

The Solo Competition is open to singers of all nationalities who were born after December 31, 1967 and who have not made a formal oratorio debut in a major role in a major New York City concert hall. (Previous Solo Competition first, second and third prize winners are not eligible to compete.)

Awards

At the conclusion of the Finals, the following Awards will be presented:

First Place $7,000
Second Place $5,000
Third Place $2,500
Fourth Place $1,500
Other Finalists $   500 each

The Judges
Judges for the Solo Competition Finals represent the major musical institutions of New York City.  Judges for the 2008 competition:
     Kent Tritle
     Alfred Hubay
     Julianne Baird
     Clara Longstreth
     Frank Nemhauser

Official Accompanist
Accompanist for the 2008 competition will be Linda Hall.

Previous Competition winners have gone on to careers in Opera and Oratorio. They include:

David Barrell
Alan Bennett
Kamel Boutros
Robert Bracey
David Britton
Benjamin Butterfield
Jennifer Check
Hans Choi
Shirley Close
Stanley Cornett
Michael Dash
Michelle DeYoung
Bradley Diamond
Molly Donnelly
William Ferguson
Lauren Flanagan
Svetlana Furdui
Alexander Hajek
Carl Halvorson
Brenda Harris
Karen Holvik
Weston Hurt
Carolyn James
Jeffrey Kneebone
Eleni Matos
Andrea Matthews
Kevin McMillan
Brian Mulligan
Eric Owens
Robert Perry
Derek Ragin
Steven Rickards
Yves Saelens
Michael Schade
Denis Sedov
Svetlana Serdar
Robert Pomakov
Anna Soranno
Jayne West
Richard Zeller

For Information or Applications:
(Applications for the 2009 Lyndon Woodside Solo Competition will be available in the fall of 2008.)

Requests for information or applications should be addressed to:
     Ms. Janet Plucknett
     Competition Chairman
     Oratorio Society of New York
     Carnegie Hall
     881 Seventh Avenue – Suite 1204
     New York, NY 10019
Or e-mail your request to solocompetition@oratoriosocietyofny.org.