Who can apply
– Classical vocalists of all nationalities
– Aged 18–32 (age assessed as of 7 July 2026)
Pre-selection Process
1. Online video pre-selection (submit 2 videos + documents + fee)
2. Up to 50 candidates invited to Live Selection in Singapore
3. Selected candidates progress on the pathway to the main competition in France (Paris / La Ferté-Imbault, 5–11 July 2026)
Timeline
– Applications open: 14 February 2026
– Deadline: 21 March 2026
– Top 50 notified: 28 March 2026
– Live Selection for Top 2 (Singapore): 25 April 2026
– Finals in France (La Ferté-Imbault): 5–11 July 2026)
What to submit (online)
– Completed online application form
– Two (2) high-quality video recordings of contrasting opera arias
– CV
– Professional headshot
Video rules (important)
– Arias must be sung in the original language (Italian / German / French / English)
– All arias must be performed from memory (no sheet music)
– No “cathedral” acoustics
– No splicing multiple takes into one aria; no pitch correction
– Minimum 720p; clear audio; links must be viewable
Live Selection (Singapore)
– Perform two (2) opera arias of your choice that best showcase your ability
– Arias must be sung from memory, in the original language and original key/tonality
– Bring valid passport/official ID
– Accompaniment (live)
– Candidates make their own accompaniment arrangements
– Foreign candidates may request organiser assistance to arrange an official pianist (subject to availability and an additional fee)
Fees
– Application fee: SGD 150 (EUR 100)
– Non-refundable
Prize Money Details
(based on 2024)
First Prize: €50,000 + performance with Sumi Jo.
Second Prize: €20,000.
Third Prize: €10,000.
Finalists: Often receive opportunities to perform as special guests with Sumi Jo at international concerts.
Peter Edelmann (Intendant, Oper Klosterneuburg, Austria)
Organ Prawang Carlson (Mahidol University, Thailand)
Andre Bücker (Staatsintendant Augsburg, Germany)
Olivier Ojzerowicz-Medinger (Jury President Owner of Château de la Ferté-Imbault)
Jonathan Friend (Artistic Advisor to the Houston Grand Opera)
Alessandro Galoppini (Casting Manager of La Scala)
Sumi Jo
Description
It is a distinct honour for Opera Asia to be entrusted with hosting the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition Asia pre-selection in Singapore. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to nurturing talent by identifying outstanding vocalists across the region and providing them with a vital gateway to international exposure. Beyond artistic excellence, the competition serves as a powerful platform for cultural exchange and diplomacy, showcasing Asia as a dynamic and growing centre for classical music and opera. It underscores the region’s collective role in shaping the future of the global classical arts ecosystem, while strengthening cross-cultural ties and artistic collaboration among Asian nations in the lead-up to ASEAN’s enhanced cultural engagement on the world stage in 2027.
Through this competition, two finalists will be selected to represent Asia at the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition Grand Finals in France, fostering meaningful cross-border collaboration within the Asian classical music community and amplifying Asian voices on an international platform.
The second edition of the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition Grand Finals will take place in France in July 2026 at the Château de la Ferté-Imbault, one of the most charming estates in the Loire Valley. The fulfilment of a long-held dream of Miss Sumi Jo herself, patiently developed with a team of internationally recognised music professionals, the competition is conceived as a truly global platform to spotlight exceptional young artists from around the world. At its heart, it is a celebration of artistic excellence, cultural diversity, and the rising presence of Asian vocalists on the world’s most prestigious classical stages.
When
Date: 25 April 2026
Time: 10:00AM - 10:00PM
Where
Venue: Chambers at the Art House
Le Château de La Ferté-Imbault
Located in the Loire Valley less than two hours from Paris and built on foundations dating back to 980 AD, the estate of La Ferté-Imbault features a remarkably preserved ensemble from the 16th and 17th centuries, including the main château, the outbuildings, the pavilions, the moats, the double terrace, the gardens and the park. Completed in 1627 and presenting a harmonious composition of architecture and landscape, its design is a manifest synthesis of its history: both a fortress (hence the name Ferté) with an imposing silhouette evocative of a glorious military past, and an elegant château with large windows and sculpted facades revealing all the refinement of the Renaissance spirit and the Age of Enlightenment. (adapted from sumijo-isc)
