2019 Lieder/Song Vocal Competition Prize Winners

Lieder/Song 2019: Winners Who Kept Coming Back

First Prize winner Johnathan McCullough is a GRAMMY-nominated baritone and director who has sung leading roles with Opera Philadelphia, Komische Oper Berlin and English National Opera. Second Prize winner Eric Finbarr-Carey has appeared as tenor soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with the Gewandhaus Orchester and at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society of New York. Third Prize winner Megan Moore has sung with Seattle Opera, San Diego Opera and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and has covered at the Metropolitan Opera. Maire Carmack, a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, has sung at the Semperoper Dresden. Erin Wagner has made her Metropolitan Opera debut, Gregory Feldmann has sung at Opernhaus Zürich, and Maria Brea has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera. Sung Shin has been an Apprentice Artist with Sarasota Opera, and is the founder and director of Opera Under the Arch and a board member of Teatro Grattacielo and the Premiere Opera Foundation.

Names to know: Johnathan McCullough · Eric Finbarr-Carey · Megan Moore · Maire Carmack · Erin Wagner · Gregory Feldmann · Maria Brea · Sung Shin

FIRST PRIZE : $7,000

Johnathan McCullough — BARITONE

SECOND PRIZE — Liederkranz Foundation Prize: $5,000

Eric Finbarr-Carey — TENOR

THIRD PRIZE: $3,000

Megan Moore — MEZZO SOPRANO

GRANT: $1,000

Alec Carlson — TENOR
Dennis Chmelensky — BARITONE
Monica Dewey — SOPRANO
Alexia Mate — SOPRANO

ENCOURAGEMENT: $500

Maria Brea — SOPRANO
Maire Carmack — MEZZO SOPRANO
Gregory Feldmann — BARITONE
Aaron Keeney — BARITONE
Yvette Keong — SOPRANO
Evan Lazdowski — BASS BARITONE
JangHo Lee — TENOR
Jimin Park — BARITONE
Dongwei Shen — BARITONE
Sung Shin — BARITONE
Anastasia Sidorova — MEZZO SOPRANO
CongJu Song — TENOR
Erin Wagner — MEZZO SOPRANO
Tianchi Zhang — TENOR

JUDGING PANEL

Scott Barnes
Michael Benchetrit
Ken Benson
Lenore Rosenberg
Barbara Ann Testa

PIANIST

Arlene Shrut

Accolades

I am truly honored to have received this prestigious award. My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, and I eagerly look forward to performing at Carnegie Hall!

Finn Sagal, Baritone

Receiving the Judges’ Special Prize in the Gerda Lissner Foundation Art Song Competition is a great honor for me, especially amongst such a talented group of singers this year. To me, art song is one of the most intimate and sublime forms, and as such recital singing has always been one of my true passions. I am so grateful to The Gerda Lissner Foundation for this recognition and their continued support of all young artists.”

Samuel Kidd, Baritone

Receiving this recognition from The Gerda Lissner Foundation is an immense honor. The generous financial support makes an extraordinary difference—it allows young singers like me to continue our training. The performance opportunities that come from this recognition are immensely exciting and inspiring. Having the support of The Gerda Lissner Foundation makes the journey I am on not only possible but profoundly rewarding. I am sincerely grateful for this award and for the reminder that my voice and the story I tell matters.

Jennifer Robinson, soprano

The Special Judge’s Prize in this year’s Art Song Competition was so meaningful to me! I did not necessarily consider myself a ‘song specialist’ when I entered, but I have learned so much about musicality and expression through singing this repertoire. This award inspires me to seek out additional recital opportunities and reminds me of the intimate connection song can facilitate, which can be more personal and accessible than grand opera.

Anna Thompson, soprano

Winning Second Prize in The Gerda Lissner Foundation Art Song Competition is an incredible privilege. This distinguished competition is one of the few that celebrate and preserves the rich tradition of art song, providing a vital platform for artists devoted to this expressive and intimate repertoire. To be recognized by such an esteemed jury is an honor and I am profoundly grateful to the Foundation, its generous supporters, and the dedicated team who make this competition possible.

Magdalena Kuźma, soprano

I am profoundly grateful to The Gerda Lissner Foundation for the honor of having me and for the incredible award. It will be cherished deeply as a very special memento. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! This award symbolizes not only a recognition of my efforts but also serves as a testament to the unwavering support and encouragement I have received from organizations like The Gerda Lissner Foundation, family, and friends. Their instrumental role in nurturing my artistic growth has been a driving force, and this achievement is as much theirs as it is mine.

Sasha Cooke, Mezzo-soprano

The Gerda Lissner Foundation IVC was one of the very first vocal competitions I ever auditioned for many moons ago. Stepping onto the stage of Zankel Hall was an unforgettable full circle moment for me as I went on to perform as the recipient of the second prize. I’m immensely grateful for the recognition and the foundation’s continued support through the opportunities they provide for young artists.

Tatev Baroyan soprano

Last night’s opera concert was nothing short of magical – a truly unforgettable experience. From the breathtaking performances to the grandeur of the venue, every moment was a masterpiece. Events like these remind us of the beauty that music and connection can bring into our lives.

Jewish Association Serving the Aging

Not only a great concert but also a “gathering of the Tribe”.

VOCE DI MECHE

I had an unforgettable experience singing for the Gerda Lissner Foundation at Carnegie Hall for their Winners Concert on April 30th. I am so grateful and honored and proud to have been a part of this experience.

Ashlyn Rock, soprano

Song is a precious and important art form, and The Gerda Lissner Foundation is doing vital work in supporting the next generation of art song performers. I consider it a true honor to be recognized among this year’s group of Lieder/Song Competition prize-winners. Singing at the Winners’ Concert was a highlight of my season — it was a joy to share some of my favorite repertoire in beautiful Zankel Hall alongside a wonderful collaborator, Francesco Barfoed.

Bridget Esler, soprano

Winning the Grand Prize at the Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition was a tremendous honor. Receiving support and recognition from such a distinguished jury is deeply encouraging as I continue to pursue this career. Performing at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall for the first time was truly a dream. The acoustics were stunning, and the full house brought such generous energy to every performer.

Magdalena Kuźma, soprano

I am deeply honored to receive this generous award from The Gerda Lissner Foundation. I am truly grateful for the recognition and support. It was a tremendous privilege to make my Carnegie Hall debut as part of the Winners Recital—an unforgettable experience. My sincere thanks to the Foundation for this remarkable opportunity and for their continued commitment to supporting young artists.

Giorgi Guliashvili, tenor

It was a sensational recital of gifted young singers…..it was a celebration of the enduring legacy of Gerda Lissner; …. No one need worry about the future of opera.

VOCE DI MECHE

…A lovely way to wrap up a Sunday afternoon! …if what we experienced was any indication, the forecast for opera’s future looks bright indeed.

Forbes on Film & Footlights, Harry Forbes

I am so immensely grateful and honored to have been awarded First Prize in this year’s Gerda Lissner Foundation Lieder Competition. Song has always been a source of joy and inspiration for me, and I feel so grateful to the Foundation for their support of this deeply important art form and for their belief in my artistry.

Erin Wagner, mezzo-soprano