Welcome

4th International Competition of Great African Opera Voices

Call for applications open from November 15, 2024 to February 14, 2025

Tests on April 24-26, 2025

New paragraph

Apply online

Download the regulations

Apply online

Download the rules

President of the Jury:

Jean-Philippe THIELLAY

President of the National Music Center

News

Africa-Caribbean: Music and Memory, from November 18 to 22, 2024 in Martinique

The Voices of Sainte-Cécile celebrated their 10th anniversary with the Great Voices of African Opera

More information

The History of the Competition

Launched in 2007, AFRICA LYRIC'S OPERA is a global initiative, which aims to promote and make classical music, lyrical art accessible to as many people as possible, and to showcase Opera in its diversity.

The aim is to promote lyrical artists and instrumentalists from around the world and of African origin and Afro-descendants, to detect, support and accompany young lyrical talents, to create operas and collaborations with artists, instrumentalists and orchestras from around the world, to meet writing, voices, Africa and its diaspora, to organize innovative and supportive classical events, to support educational, social and cultural projects, to create music schools, to offer scholarships and to organize training sessions, masterclasses and international competitions.

The International Competition of African Opera Voices, created in 2022, responds to an approach of openness, professional integration, training, solidarity and visibility of African and Afro-descendant voices in classical music.

Competition history

Launched in 2007, AFRICA LYRIC'S OPERA is a global initiative, which aims to promote and make classical music and lyrical art accessible to as many people as possible and to promote Opera in its diversity.

It is about raising awareness of lyrical artists and instrumentalists from around the world and of African and Afro-descendant origin, detecting, supporting and accompanying young lyrical talents, creating operas and collaborations with artists, instrumentalists and orchestras from around the world, at the same time. meeting of writing, voices, Africa and its diaspora, organizing innovative and supportive classical events, supporting educational, social and cultural projects, creating music schools, offering scholarships and organizing training sessions, masterclasses and international competitions.

The International Competition for Opera Voices of Africa, created in 2022, responds to an approach of openness, professional integration, training, solidarity and visibility of African and Afro-descendant voices in classical music.

Apply now

Launch of the 2025 edition

The call for applications for the Africa Lyric's Opera Competition 2025 edition is open from November 15, 2024 to February 14, 2025!

Discover the teaser of the 2025 Competition

The instrument 2025: The Ngombi, the “sacred harp”

Every year, Africa Lyric's Opera highlights a musical instrument to discover or rediscover.

This season, the Ngombi is in the spotlight! Do you know this instrument?

The ngombi is a plucked string musical instrument from Central Africa (Central African Republic, Republic of Congo and Gabon)

It is an arched harp used by the Kwele, the Fangs as well as the Mbochi.

Collection of the Philharmonic Museum

Discover the Louis-Jouvet Athenaeum Theater

Get started! Let your talent shine!

1 - Be from an African country

Be of African origin or Afro-descendant or from the African diaspora or have the nationality of an African country

2 - Be passionate

Be an opera singer and/or singing student and/or young hopeful and/or passionate about lyrical singing and/or self-taught and/or semi-professional

3 - Be available

Be available on the competition dates for the semi-final and final

4 - Select a category and set the rights

Choose one of the three opera competition categories: Young hopeful OR Amateur OR Semi-professional. Pay the registration fees according to the category, before the deadline set by the regulations

5 - Respect the application deadline

Respect the registration deadline set by the regulations, i.e. February 14, 2025

6 - Talk about yourself

Submit 1 cover letter 1 detailed CV of your musical experience as well as your training and project

7 - Submit a complete file

Have submitted a complete registration file (including 1 video for pre-selection) and respect the age limit according to the categories

8 - Plan your trip if necessary

Have a valid passport to travel if necessary (applicants outside France/Europe) and respect the rules of stay, health and safety, which will be in force, if applicable

Resident in France or elsewhere?

No restrictions on place of residence (Africa, Europe, Rest of the World)

French-speaking, English-speaking, Portuguese-speaking...?

No language area restrictions. We speak your language

Young beginner or experienced adult?

Be between 16 and 50 years old, depending on the categories to apply

Young hopeful, amateur or semi-professional?

Try your luck in one of three categories!

Are you asking yourself the following questions?

You can't pay your registration fees by PAYPAL or credit card?
Would you like to use another payment method?
Do you want to have your registration paid for by a third party?
Do you want to send your documents by another means?
Would you like assistance with registering?

It is possible! To do this, do the following 4 things:

1- Click here to fill out the dedicated online form (only for candidates who do not have a credit card or a PAYPAL account)

2- Download our RIB/IBAN OR get MOBILE MONEY numbers for payment, depending on your country

3- Pay your registration fees by BANK TRANSFER OR MOBILE MONEY and collect proof of payment

4- Send your complete file by email accompanied by proof of payment of your fees

Need assistance?

You would like to benefit from the assistance of a member of our team to register

or do you have other questions?

Competition Rules - Singing competition rules

Download the regulations in French

Download the rules in English

Jury

An exceptional jury for the 2025 edition already underway and soon to be presented!

Season 33769240646

Africa Lyric's Opera offers you a rich and varied season that will take you

on the roads of France, in the Caribbean and in Africa!

Book your tickets for the new season's concerts

November 15, 2024 :

Africa Lyric's Opera Season Launch

33769240646

The Lyrical Voices of Sainte-Cécile welcome the Great Opera Voices of Africa to Martinique

This annual event organized by the incredible Patricia Pegba, Director of the Office of Culture of Lamentin, aims to desacralize classical music and to introduce the Martinican public, young and old, to the Caribbean lyrical singers who have managed to make a place for themselves in the lyrical circle and in popular music.

For its 10th anniversary, the Voices of Sainte-Cécile have honored the Great Opera Voices of Africa.

12 to 33769240646

Lyrical Workshop for Young Hopefuls Africa Lyric's Opera at the Opéra National du Rhin

Why participate in a lyrical workshop?

The Opéra National du Rhin's Lyric Workshop for Young People aims to promote the discovery and appreciation of opera and classical music among younger generations. This workshop aims to raise participants' awareness of the lyrical arts, encourage their creativity and develop their vocal and artistic skills.

Furthermore, the initiative contributes to cultural diversity by integrating cultural influences into the world of opera, which enriches the experience of young people and fosters intercultural exchange. These workshops provide a platform for young talents to express themselves and help them connect with art forms that may be less familiar to them, while creating a bright future for the stage.

Our young lyrical hopefuls 33769240646:

Adlane Guemroud, Baryton
Junior Tobang, Bass

Thanks to the Opera Studio team who welcome our young people!

Meet at the Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet in Paris for the 4th edition of the International Competition for Great African Opera Voices:

April 24, 2025 for the semi-final
April 26, 2025 for the final!

Partners

Previous editions

JURY

President 2022:

Patricia Petibon

President 2023:

Helen Delavault

Sponsor 2023:

Ludovic Tézier

President 2024:

Sophie Koch

Pianist-accompanist: Thomas Tacquet

Loiret Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra Director: Emmanuelle Huet

Direction : Mehdi Lougraida

WINNERS SEMI-PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

2022

1st Opera Prize 2022, Adriana Bignagni, mezzo-soprano

2nd Opera Prize 2022, Suzanne Taffot, soprano

3rd Opera Prize 2022, Maurel Endong, bass-baritone

2023

1st Opera Prize 2023, Mariamielle Lamagat, soprano

2nd Opera Prize 2023, Aaron-Casey Gould, tenor

3rd Prix Opéra 2023, Monika Mazanka, soprano

2024

1st Opera Prize 2024, Yolisa Ngwexana, soprano

2nd Opera Prize 2024, Milan Mcray, soprano

3rd Opera Prize 2024, Kofi Hayford, bass

Support us

Africa Lyric's Opera is a global initiative that is divided into several actions. We create bridges between France, Africa and the rest of the world to make Opera accessible and promote innovative projects in the field of music and culture.

You can support our projects for artists, for creation, education and training

Become a member or volunteer

Become a patron or partner

Make a donation online

Training (masterclasses, lyrical workshops, music at school, training of trainers) and professional integration (promoting networking between artists, employers and producers)

The organization of high-level classical music events and concerts to make African and Afro-descendant opera voices visible

The production of works, through the creation of operas and the promotion of contemporary composers and instrumentalists of classical music