Western University High School Vocal Competition
Winner of the 2024 competition Adrit Panda
Registration
Cost
No fee
Grand Prizes
Junior Stream: $250
Senior Stream: $250
Registration Deadline
November 1, 2025 | 11:59pm
Competition Date
Friday, November 14, 2025
Must be available to attend in person.
Location and timeslot will be confirmed on November 7.
2025 Competition Information
We are happy to announce the Western University High School Vocal Competition taking place on Friday, November 14 from 2:30pm to 6:30pm.
If you are a Canadian secondary school student thinking about pursuing post-secondary studies in music, this is a great way to prepare your audition repertoire, receive written feedback, experience Western’s voice area, meet professors and students, and tour the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
This year there will be two streams for applicants to the competition: the Junior Stream for students in grades 9 and 10, and the Senior Stream for students in grades 11 and 12 (and students taking a gap year).
The winner of each stream will be awarded a cash prize of $250. There will be several honourable mentions and additional prizes which include tickets to an upcoming opera production or a voice lesson with one of our instructors. All participants will receive written feedback from multiple faculty members, as well as a recording of their performance.
When is the competition?
Friday, November 14, 2025 from 2:30pm to 6:30pm.
Participants are required to be available during this, full-time. Exact time slots will be confirmed on November 7th. You will have access to a practice room ahead of time. You may also have a rehearsal prior to the competition with a faculty-provided collaborative pianist.
What is the deadline to register?
Saturday, Nov. 1 2025, 11:59pm EST
How do I participate?
Prepare two (2) songs (art song, folk song, Musical Theatre) to be performed live with piano accompaniment. One must be in English, and the other may be in any language (including English). One of the two selections may be Music Theatre.
Total performance duration cannot exceed ten minutes (both songs, combined).
A collaborative pianist is required. You may bring your own, or we will provide one free of charge. Please indicate your choice upon registration; those using a Western collaborative pianist will receive a brief rehearsal time prior to the competition.
How are the winners chosen?
- Precision of musicianship and performance practice
- Lyric diction
- Current level and potential of artistry and performing
Winners will be announced approximately 15–20 minutes following the last performance.
Who is judging the competition?
- Torin Chiles, Voice Area Division Coordinator
- Bethany Hörst, Voice instructor/Voice Fridays Coordinator
- Todd Wieczorek, Assistant Professor, Voice
- Other Voice faculty members may attend and participate
Learn more about the Voice Division at Western.
Full competition rules
Please carefully review the official competition rules and regulations before submitting your registration.
Download PDFRegister
In The News
November 2024: Western Music develops talent in High School Vocal Competition
Contact Us
Sasha Gorbasew
Recruitment Coordinator
519-661-2111 x80532
agorbase@uwo.ca
