2026 Senior Vocal — Programme

Class 245 — Becroft Aria (preliminary round) (open)

Class sponsor: Becroft Foundation, Auckland Opera Studio, NSPAS

Time limit 7 minutes per aria. Competitors will only sing the FIRST of the two arias listed in the programme in this preliminary round. Competitors must also enter TWO other classes in the competition. A single entry in either Class 263 (Linda Wootten Memorial) or Class 264 (Seamus Casey Memorial) will satisfy this condition. 1st Prize $7000 sponsored by the Becroft Foundation. 2nd Prize $3000 sponsored by Auckland Opera Studio. 3rd Prize $1000 sponsored by North Shore Performing Arts Society.

Class 246a — Music Theatre in costume - First Item (open)

Class sponsor: Janice Webb QSM, North Shore Performing Arts Society

Winner receives the Les Kitney Memorial Trophy and $150, sponsored by Janice Webb QSM. Second Prize $100 sponsored by Janice Webb QSM. Third Prize $50 sponsored by the North Shore Performing Arts Society. Performers will present two items. Both singing and acting ability will be judged.

Class 250 — Song by a New Zealand Composer (open)

Class sponsor: SOUNZ

Prizes in the form of vouchers from SOUNZ. 1st $70, 2nd $40, 3rd $30.

Class 246b — Music Theatre in costume - Second Item (open)

Class sponsor: Janice Webb QSM, North Shore Performing Arts Society

Winner receives the Les Kitney Memorial Trophy and $150, sponsored by Janice Webb QSM. Second Prize $100 sponsored by Janice Webb QSM. Third Prize $50 sponsored by the North Shore Performing Arts Society. Performers will present two items. Both singing and acting ability will be judged.

Class 264 — Seamus Casey Memorial Award (open)

Class sponsor: Paul and Judith Casey

Open to male singers. Winner receives $750, 2nd place $250 and 3rd place $100, sponsored by Paul and Judith Casey. Competitors will sing three items: an aria from opera, a German Lied, and an item in English. These may be sung in any order, but total performance time must not exceed 15 minutes. Due to time constraints, singers are requested to NOT give spoken introductions to their works.

Class 247 — Restricted - Own Selection (open)

Class sponsor: Opera Factory

Open to singers who have not won a first prize during the last three years at this or any similar competition. First place $75 sponsored by Opera Factory.

Class 252 — Nomination/s for PACANZ National Young Performer Awards (17 to 24 years)

2026 Criteria for Vocal A. Performers will be 17 and under 25 years as at 1st of October 2026. B. Performers will introduce their items and they must sing them in the language in which they were composed. C C.1. Each performer will perform a programme of a maximum of 15 minutes and no less than 12 minutes, including the introduction. There will be a total mark given for the complete programme. A penalty of 5 marks will be imposed if the minimum time limit is not met, or the maximum time limit is exceeded by 60 seconds or more. C.2. An accompanist is provided, but competitors may bring their own at their own expense?. D. Each performer will perform a programme consisting of: D.1. 20th or 21st Century Art Song D.2. Aria (Opera or Oratorio) D.3. Own Selection E. In the semi-final, those performers recalled will perform either two or three items from their programme, at the Adjudicator?s discretion. The number of semi-finalists is determined as per the NYPA rules 7.1-7.2. Competitors will be chosen based on their marks in the Preliminary round. F. Three Finalists will be recalled for the Final Award Concert and will perform one item from their original programme, as directed by the Adjudicator.

Class 259 — European Art Song and Lieder (open)

Class sponsor: Auckland Art Songs and Lieder

A combination of Class 254 European Art Song (not English) after 1840 (open), and Class 259 German Lied. Winner will receive the Gwilym Evans Memorial Trophy and $125, Second place $50, and Third place $25.

Class 256 — Folk/Traditional/Spiritual (open)

Class sponsor: Anne Shanks

The Winner will receive $100. 2nd Prize $50. 3rd Prize $25.

Class 257 — Oratorio (open)

Class sponsor: Anne Shanks

Time limit 7 minutes. Any preceding recitative must be included. The Winner will receive the Sir John Allum Challenge Cup. The Winner will receive $100. 2nd Prize $50. 3rd Prize $25.

Class 263 — The Linda Wootten Memorial Award (open)

Class sponsor: Linda Wootten Estate

Open to female singers. Winner receives $750, Second place $250, Third place $100 from the Linda Wootten Estate. Competitors will sing three items: an aria from opera, a German Lied, and an item in English. These may be sung in any order, but total performance time must not exceed 15 minutes. Due to time constraints, singers are requested to NOT give spoken introductions to their works.

Class 245f — Becroft Aria Final (open)

8 Finalists of Class 245. Order shown may not be the performance order on the night.