Rome Eternal City — International Lyric Singing Competition

A new lyric competition in the Eternal City

The "Rome Eternal City" International Lyric Singing Competition was founded in 2026 as the opera-focused section of the broader "Rome Eternal City" International Music Competition. The event takes place in Rome, in the Lazio region, and is open to lyric singers of all nationalities with no age limit. The organizers' stated goal is to restore credibility and seriousness to the world of international music competitions, rewarding artistic talent exclusively and offering young winners real opportunities for professional growth.

The Venue: Link Campus University

The auditions are held in the Ancient Library of the Link Campus University, on Via del Casale di San Pio V, in the Monte Mario district, near Casalotti, Rome. The university is not only the setting for the competition but also an academic partner: top-ranked participants are awarded scholarships for the Master's degree in "Music and Performing Arts," creating a direct bridge between the competition and higher education.

The Competition Format

Each candidate prepares five arias, four in Italian and one in another language, and faces a three-stage process:

• Preliminary Round: two arias chosen by the candidate from the five presented;
• Semi-final: two additional arias from the prepared program;
• Final: one aria chosen by the singer and one requested by the jury.

The voices are evaluated by an international jury, chaired by artistic director Cristina Park Hyo Kang and composed of renowned figures from the music scene, tasked with identifying the most promising timbres and artistic personalities.

Prizes and Career Opportunities

In addition to cash scholarships for the top three finishers, the competition offers concrete debut opportunities: an orchestral tour in South Korea, a debut at Carnegie Hall in New York, concerts with the "Note di Puglia" orchestra, performances for the Cappella Musicale Costantina, and at the Teatro del Giglio in Lucca. Two one-thousand-euro scholarships are also reserved for the first and second-level Master's programs at Link Campus University, along with other special prizes offered by the event's partners.

Rome, Capital of Music

With its inaugural edition, "Rome Eternal City" joins the rich landscape of lyric competitions in the capital, bringing a new showcase for young singers from around the world to the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio region. The competition blends the tradition of Italian melodrama with an international vision, confirming Rome as a symbolic hub for grand opera.