
The Gerda Lissner Foundation established the International Vocal Competition (IVC) in 1995 to fulfill its mission to provide young opera singers with the financial support and performance opportunities they need to pursue their craft and excel in the world of Opera. The Foundation awards cash prizes and presents its winners on stage at Carnegie Hall, in recital at WQXR’s The Greene Space and on-air via WQXR’s Young Artists’ Showcase.
The Gerda Lissner Foundation supports singers who have solid educational backgrounds and a broad list of opera house and festival credits – singers who are therefore ready to perform on major regional, national, and international stages.
Our 2026 Judges Panel