Soprano Chelsea Marilyn Zurflüh Wins First Prize at the 78th Concours de Genève Voice Competition

The 28-year-old soprano from Switzerland will take home CHF 20,000, along with multiple special prizes

Open to any singers younger than 32 years old, the Voice Competition of the 78th Concours de Genève recently came to a close at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, in Switzerland. Each of the three finalists performed three opera arias with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by Alevtina Ioffe. The entire competition was streamed LIVE here on the Violin Channel.

The First Prize and CHF 20,000 went to 28-year-old Swiss soprano Chelsea Marilyn Zurflüh. She also received the Audience Prize, Young Audience Prize, Students’ Prize, Arts Society Prize, Fondation Etrillard Prize, OSR Musicians’ Prize, and Cercle Du Grand Théâtre Prize.

The Second Prize and CHF 12,000 have been awarded to 30-year-old South-Korean baritone Jungrae Noah Kim. 

In addition to the official prizes, which were funded by the Fondation Francis & Marie-France Minkoff, laureates benefit from two years of services from the concert agency Sartory Artists — which includes career management, personal coaching, and multiple concerts. Jungrae and Chelsea were jointly awarded the Concerts De Jussy Prize and the Rose-Marie Huguenin Prize.

While the Third Prize has not been attributed, finalist 25-year-old mezzo-soprano Barbara Skora received an Honorable Mention Prize.

Semi-Finalist and tenor Junho Hwang South Korea has been awarded the Yvonne Sigg Foundation Prize.

"What deeply moved both the jury and I was the hope we see in young people who want to play an active role in society, seeking meaning through music to build connections," said Jury Chair and Soprano, Patricia Petibon. "This is something we must listen to with strength and conviction, because it is there that the future of opera, and the future of our artists, lies.”

The official vocal jury included Patricia Petibon, Chair, Aviel Cahn, André Comploi, Jean Denes, Sophie de Lint, Susan Manoff, and Waltraud Meier.

Founded in 1939, the Concours de Genève is one of the world’s leading international music competitions. This year, it also hosted its Composition Competition, which awarded first prize ex-aequo to Composers Léo Albisetti and Caio de Azevedo.

More than 800 artists have passed through the competition over the course of its history. Each year two disciplines are offered in rotation, choosing from piano, flute, oboe, clarinet, cello, viola, string quartet, voice, percussion, and composition.