International Vocal Competition 2012
The American Protégé International Vocal Competition is designed for singers who would like to challenge themselves in a very competitive environment. The Competition is open to solo vocalists and vocal groups of all ages, nationalities and countries.
Participants are required to submit video recording materials for the audition.
A panel of qualified judges evaluates audition materials. All judges are independent, their students are not allowed to apply this season.
Eligibility
We invite school students and adults to participate in the Competition. There is no age limit for the adult participants.
Multiple winners will be chosen in each of the following age groups:
Category: | Age: |
Young Singers | 5 - 10 |
Junior | 11 - 14 |
Intermediate | 15 - 17 |
Amateur (without Professional Degree) | 18 and older |
College students and professional singers | 18 and older |
International Vocal Competition 2012 Results:
Judges’ Distinction (Plaque Trophy) Award Winners

Lauren Lugo, 20, from Laguna Niguel, California, began piano lessons at the age of seven. She participated in various musical theatre productions, portraying various roles. As a choir member in advanced traveling chamber ensembles in school and in church, Lauren’s accomplishments include being the first female in high school to be a two time recipient of the Macy Award for acting and singing performances. In 2012, she was placed first in the Baroque Festival of Orange Coastal cities, in the state of California. Currently, Lauren is a student at Saddleback College. For the past year, she has been learning the technique of singing both Classical and Broadway pieces under the guidance of Dubravka Zubovic.

Dianna Richardson, 27, from Ashland, OR, is a senior honor student at Southern Oregon University where she majors in vocal performance and music education. She is the recipient of the Bev Sellers Memorial Scholarship from The Young Singers Foundation. Dianna sings with several groups in Ashland, Oregon including SOU Chamber Choir, SOU Concert Choir, Raiders of the Lost Art, and Southern Oregon Repertory Singers. The Southern Oregon Repertory singers recently awarded her a scholarship and Dianna was featured as Dido in Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas in their fall concert. She has appeared in Rogue Opera productions such as La Traviata and L’elisir d’amore and has participated in Brava! Opera Theater’s James M. Collier Young Artist Program in 2011 and 2012.
First Place Winners: | ||
Name | Age | City/State/Country |
Young Singers Category, Age 6 to 10: | ||
Lauren Yeo, Classical | 9 | Singapore |
Student of Khor Ai Ming | ||
Jennifer Johnson, Broadway/Musical Theatre/Jazz | 10 | Atlanta, GA |
Student of Dr. Nina Toropova | ||
Junior Category, Age 11 to 14: | ||
Sanchitha Balasubramanian, Opera Aria | 14 | Monmouth Junction, NJ |
Student of Gary Madison | ||
Kathy Simpson, Classical | 14 | Chicago, IL |
Student of Dan Schwartz | ||
Intermediate Category, Age 15 to 17: | ||
Leah Scholnick, Classical | 16 | New York, NY |
Student of Jonathan Koh | ||
Keelia McGovern, Classical | 16 | Chatsworth, CA |
Student of Tova Morcos | ||
Rebecca Dharmapalan, Broadway/Musical Theatre/Jazz | 16 | Oakland, CA |
Student of Matthew Liebowitz | ||
Category College Students and Professional Singers | ||
Lauren Lugo, Broadway/Musical Theatre/Jazz | 20 | Laguna Niguel, CA |
Student of Dubravka Zubovic | ||
Sheila Houlahan, Classical | 21 | New York, NY |
Student of Neil Semer | ||
Isaac Wenger, Opera Aria | 21 | Merion Station, PA |
Student of Paul Spencer Adkins | ||
Dianna Richardson, Classical | 27 | Ashland, OR |
Student of Ellie Holt Murray and Laurie Anne Hunter | ||
Second Place Winner: | ||
Young Singers Category, Age 6 to 10: | ||
Melinda Bennish, Classical | 7 | Baltimore, MD |
Patrick MacDougall, Classical | 9 | Boston, MA |
Junior Category, Age 11 to 14: | ||
Vladimir Poltavskiy, Classical | 12 | St. Petersburg, Russia |
Masumi Yoshida, Classical | 13 | Tokio, Japan |
Susan Shafer, Opera Aria | 14 | Brooklyn, NY |
Intermediate Category, Age 15 to 17: | ||
Mi – Cha Kim, Classical | 15 | Seoul, Korea |
Tyler Collins, Opera Aria | 17 | Hartford, CT |
Category College Students and Professional Singers | ||
Elizabeth Goodrich, Classical | 24 | Vienna, Austria |
Arisu Kimura, Opera Aria | 27 | Seoul, Korea |
Vartan Gevourkian, Opera Aria | 34 | San Diego, CA |
Third Place and Honorable Mention Winners will be notified of their standing via email.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS!