• ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to singers of any nationality born on or after 9th February 1974.  At least 25% of the prize fund is reserved for singers born on or after 9th February 1984.


• REPERTOIRE: All items presented must be solos with piano accompaniment (or unaccompanied if appropriate). You must present at least one substantial item by Mozart at each stage of the competition including the recording submitted with your entry.


• ENTRY: Candidates must send, to the address given on the official entry form, to arrive no later than 8th December 2008.
  • A completed entry form
  • A CD (not a minidisk) containing at least 12 minutes of music. If the recording is longer than 20 minutes you must indicate which items you wish the jury to assess
  • A statement signed by a person of standing (normally the candidate’s current teacher) certifying that this CD is a recent recording made by the candidate under normal studio conditions
  • a cheque for £25 (£50 if using the Competition’s accompanist: see 6 below)
  • a photo (for publicity purposes: preferably not a passport photo)
  • a complete CV
  • a short (100-150 words) biography


• PROGRAMME: If you are chosen for the semifinal you will be asked to sing a programme of 10-14 minutes duration. If you reach the final you will be asked to sing a program of 16-20 minutes duration not including any items you sang at the semifinal. You may if you wish repeat items from your submitted recording at either the semifinal or the final. If you wish to be considered for one or more of the special prizes listed on the front page of the syllabus you must include the appropriate items in your semifinal programme.
• PROCEDURE: The jury will select at most 12 semifinalists on the basis of the submitted recordings. The names of the semifinalists will be made known (for example by being posted on the Competition’s website) by 22nd December 2008.  The semifinal and final rounds will be held before an invited audience in London on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February. If you are a semifinalist you will be asked, after performing your programme, to take part in a short (approximately 25 minute) workshop session with one member of the jury, attended by the other members of the jury and the invited audience. This will focus on the interpretation and presentation of one item from your programme,  not on matters of vocal technique. The purpose is not to teach but to assess your ability to respond flexibly to suggestions. The item to be worked on will be notified to you by 12th January. 
  At the conclusion of the semifinal the winners of the listed special prizes will be announced and the jury may also decide to make awards to one or more singers under 25 at this stage. Four candidates will be chosen to compete in the final. If you are not chosen for the final but have nevertheless won one of the special prizes or an “under-25” award, you will be required to perform at the end of the final while the jury deliberates.

• ACCOMPANISTS: Competitors may engage their own accompanists for the public rounds. Those wishing to use the Competition’s accompanist must state this on the entry form and pay an additional fee of £25.

• RETURN OF RECORDINGS AND PHOTOS: All materials submitted including recordings and photos become the property of MISC; however recordings and photos will normally be returned at the conclusion of the competition if requested by the candidate and if appropriate stamped addressed packaging is provided.

• REPORTS: Candidates other than finalists will receive written reports on their recordings and performances in the Competition.


• GENERAL: The organisers reserve the right to refuse any entry and return the entry fee without giving reasons. The administrator has the right to include any candidate’s biography (edited as appropriate) in the printed programme. The jury has the right to stop any candidate’s performance at any stage of the competition. Prizes are awarded, and may be withheld, at the jury’s sole discretion. The jury’s decisions are final. The organisers reserve the right to record or broadcast any part of the semifinal or final without payment to the participants. MISC cannot accept liability for any loss or injury arising in connection with any candidate’s participation in the Competition howsoever caused. The details given herein are correct at the time of going to press but the organisers reserve the right to alter the arrangements as occasion demands.