Istanbul’s Leyla Gencer Voice Competition Announces 2024 Winners

The Chinese bass singer HuanHong Li has won first place with €7,500 

Organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, Borusan Sanat, and the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition is open every three years to international singers aged 18 to 32. 

This year’s 10th edition has awarded the Chinese bass HuanHong Li the €7,500 first prize as well as the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra Special Award, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin Special Award, which will see him perform with both orchestras. 

In second place with €4,000 is soprano Nazlcan Karakas of Türkiye, who was also awarded the €1,500 Leyla Gencer Audience Award. 

Karakas also received the Accademia Teatro Alla Scala Special Award, which will involve a three-month scholarship at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala. Third place with €2,500 went to the Ukrainian soprano Maria Knihnytska.

Additionally, Fernanda Allande of Mexico was awarded the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Programme Special Award, which will involve a week of coaching sessions at the opera company. 

Anna Imedashvili from Georgia won the competition’s Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre Special Award, and Jennifer Mariel Velasco of Mexico was given the Naples Teatro di San Carlo Special Award. 

Chaired by Stéphane Lissner, the 2024 jury comprised Ilker Arcayürek, Viviana Barrios, Alessandro Galoppini, David Gowland, Badri Maisuradze, and Carlo Tenan.