Competitions › International Handel Singing Competition
International Handel Singing Competition
Next edition
No future edition is announced on the official pages we could check.
Overview
Handel-only singing competition run by the London Handel Festival, with a video preliminary, live rounds in London and a final with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at St George's, Hanover Square. Handel's sacred and secular music is allowed in all rounds, sung in original language and key.
- Organiser
- London Handel Festival
- Instruments
- Voice (Baroque / Handel)
- Category
- Baroque & early music singing
- Age limits
- Aged 23 to 34 on 9 February 2026 (2026 edition)
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Application form and video link emailed to competition@londonhandelfestival.org.uk; application fee GBP 45 paid through the festival website.
Rounds & time limits
- Preliminary video (min 3 min), deadline 16 Jan 2026
- First Round, 9-10 Feb 2026, two arias, 9 min
- Semi-Final, 7 Mar 2026, up to 12 singers, up to 15 min with harpsichord
- Final, 11 Mar 2026, up to 5 singers, up to 18 min with orchestra
Repertoire
All Handel. First round: one aria with recitative and one da capo/dal segno aria, one in English and one in another language. Semi-final: two contrasting da capo arias, at least two languages including English. Final: all-Handel programme with orchestra, no cuts.
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Stephen Langridge
- Sophie Bevan
- Rachel Podger
- Jonathon Heyward
- Ben Rayfield
Prizes
- First Prize GBP 5,000
- Second Prize GBP 2,000
- Audience Prize GBP 500
Past editions
- 2026 — St George's, Hanover Square, London source
First Prize: Michael Ronan, bass-baritone; Second Prize and Audience Prize: Jane Burnell, soprano
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source