Voice Contest 2025 Organized by Sponsorship: Details Unveiled
In 2025, the Montreal International Music Competition (CMIM) will undertake a new chapter with its singing-focused edition. The fresh leadership team, comprising Chantal Poulin as general director and Shira Gilbert as artistic director, is spearheading this renewal.
The competition, designated Voice 2025, will bring together 24 talented singers from 16 countries. In a departure from tradition, contestants will now be required to perform both opera and melody pieces, a policy aimed at fostering versatility among singers.
Chantal Poulin, the former ten-year director of the Montreal competition, attributes this change to a growing preference among opera houses for versatile vocalists capable of delivering strong and adaptable performances across genres. This approach aims to help young artists stand out in a congested market and better align with contemporary opera requirements.
Some in the industry have hailed this move, with Adrianne Pieczonka, the president of the jury, playing a crucial role in the consultation process. Industry insiders maintain that young singers learn both genres, making this diversity well-received by casting directors.
Marking a departure, Elisabeth St-Gelais, the acclaimed Canadian singer and recipient of the 2023 European Prize and the 2022 Grand Prix of the Canadian Music Competition, was not selected for the competition. CMIM officials, however, maintain that they do not interfere with the jury's choices, and that St-Gelais's case is an issue of document presentation and ranking.
The shifting landscape of music competitions finds emerging artists catering to a broad audience, with a greater emphasis on versatility, media presence, and adaptability. However, while international competitions showcase a heightened interest in cross-genre appeal, Voice 2025 remains unique in its dual-category opera and melody requirement.
Conducted in five 'Aria' sessions and three 'Melody' sessions throughout June, the competition will conclude on the 6th with a final televised event. The event will also feature the 'Emerging Jury,' mentored by Aline Kutan, comprising students from the city's major universities, and the 'On the Road' initiative, providing semi-final participants an opportunity to perform in regional concerts.
In addition to preparations for the competition, the CMIM is reviewing its repertoire, incorporating contemporary pieces and Canadian works to maintain its relevance in today's cultural climate. The rumored plan to transform the CMIM into an exclusive singing competition has reportedly been dismissed by the organization's leadership.
Singers participating in Voice 2025, the renewed edition of the Montreal International Music Competition, will not only perform opera pieces but also melody pieces, a shift aimed at promoting versatility and better equipping them for the demands of contemporary culture and the opera industry. The combination of both genres in the competition is becoming increasingly relevant in the shifting landscape of music competitions, which prioritize versatility, media presence, and adaptability among emerging artists.
