Butler Opera Center
THE COMPETITION
Twenty-four semi-finalists will be invited to Austin through screening of a completed application and two video clips in contrasting musical styles. Up to ten finalists will be chosen after a semi-final round to compete for over $30,000 in prizes in a final evening competition which is open to the public. Accompanists will be provided. Open to singers 18-35. Applicants are responsible for obtaining proper US visas, travel and lodging. All contestants must be available for all competition events, September 28-October 2, 2025.
2025 COMPETITION Schedule
September 28
All contestants arrive in Austin. Rehearsals begin.
September 29
Rehearsals continue.
September 30
Semi-final rounds.
October 1
Industry Day with BOC Faculty and Judges.
Evening Finals concert.
Prizes
$10,000 | First Prize
$6,000 | Second Prize
$4,000 | Third Prize
$1,500 | Robert DeSimone Prize
$1,000 | Finalists
Judges
Judges will be announced soon.
Auditions
Application Process
Application opens soon...
Interested singers must complete an application through YAPTRACKER, submitting application, resume, bio, headshot and two video selections in contrasting languages and musical styles. All semi-finalists will be chosen from the materials applicants submit.
Application Fee
$25 USD, as processed through the YAPTRACKER application.
Application Deadline
June 15, 2025
Notification Date
August 1, 2025
Repertoire
Four arias will be heard during the competition. One must be in English.
Two arias will be performed during the semi-final round.
Additional two arias will be performed in the final evening concert.
About The Competition
coming soon...
Past Winners
Butler Opera International
2023
Navasard Hakobyan, First Prize, $10,000
Sarah Saturnino, Second Prize, $6,000
Sun-ly Piere, Third Prize, $4,000
Le Bu, Kerry French McKechnie Prize, $2,500
Luke Sutliff, Rovert DeSimone Prize, $1,500
2022
Magdalena Kuźma, First Prize, $10,000
Anthony Ciaramitaro Second Prize, 6,000
Teresa Perrotta, Third Prize, $4,000
Kyle van Schoonhoven,
Kerry French McKechnie Prize, $2,500 & Audience Favorite Prize, $1,000
Jongwong Han, Encouragement Prize, $1,500
2019
Courtney Elvira, soprano
Seunghee Lee, bass
Carlos Enrique Santelli, tenor
Daewon Seo, baritone
Crystal White, Soprano
2018
Mariya Kagauskaya, mezzo-soprano
Sangmoon Lee, tenor
Lee Hyun Sung, soprano