Young Artist Competition

Colorado Bach Ensemble is very excited to announce our plans for the 2025-2026 Bach competition for aspiring vocal soloists interested in the music of J. S. Bach. Following a preliminary round of recorded solo submissions due by February 15, 2026, finalists will be chosen to participate in our LIVE final round concert on May 16, 2026 in Denver, each performing 2 assigned arias from Bach’s repertoire.

One First Prize Winner and one Runner-Up will be selected at the conclusion of the concert, winning $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. In addition to the cash prizes, each will have a chance to perform with CBE in future seasons at the discretion of the Artistic Director.

Eligibility

The competition is open to young artists who:

Have completed undergraduate studies
Are pursuing a professional vocal career
Are between 22 – 28 years old
- And/or a current graduate student studying vocal performance
- Exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. Email cbecompetition@gmail.com with questions.

Other Requirements:

One recommendation from a teacher or professional familiar with their work
A copy of identification (i.e. driver’s license or passport) with their application to confirm eligibility.
Additionally, applicants who are not US citizens will need to present proof of employment authorization in the United States.
Only complete applications submitted by Sunday, February 15, Midnight MST will be considered by the judges.

Preliminary Round Guidelines & Details

Recorded Video Requirements:

We will begin reviewing application materials and videos after the submission deadline of February 15, 2026.
For the videos:
Applicants should sing one recitative and one aria from any work by J.S. Bach. The recit and aria can be from the same work, or can come from different works.
This year, applicants are also asked to include one aria or song by a historically underrepresented composer from the baroque era. Examples include but are not limited to: Joseph Bologne, Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, Salamone Rossi, and Barbara Strozzi.
Your selections do not need to be memorized.
Your video must be recorded from one angle that does not change. No video edits are allowed.
Please announce your selections and the work(s) before performing them.
- If the Bach recit and aria are from the same work and back to back, you should announce them both at the beginning and then perform them back to back.
- If the Bach selections are from different works or are found separately in the same work, announce the title of the recit and work prior to performing it, and then do the same with the aria.
No sound editing is allowed whatsoever.
You should perform with a live collaborative pianist/instrumentalist.

Application

Download and complete the application form (found below).
Upload a completed and signed application form, along with all supplemental materials to a Google Drive Folder and share it with cbecompetition@gmail.com. Materials to include:
1. Application Form
2. Recommendation from a teacher or professional who is familiar with your work.
3. Copy of identification to confirm eligibility.
4. Resume and/or brief biography (no more than 250 words).
5. Video files of your audition pieces
6. Headshot as a .jpeg file
A non-refundable application fee of $85.00 is required with the application. The fee may be paid with Credit Card or transfer via PayPal. (See instructions below for more detail.)
Email cbecompetition@gmail.com after you have shared your Google Drive folder (make sure that permissions are set on the folder to allow others to edit the file ) and paid the application fee, so we can confirm receipt.
Applications will be accepted until Midnight, MST (Mountain Standard Time) on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Final Round Concert Guidelines & Details

May 16, 2026 • Christ Church • Denver, Colorado, 6:00 PM

Applicants will be notified by Sunday, March 1, 2026 if they have been selected to participate in the live finals concert with Colorado Bach Ensemble. After that, more details will follow (i.e. which arias to prepare, etc).
Finalists will be invited to perform 2 assigned arias by JS Bach on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
There will be a short rehearsal for each of the finalists on the day of the competition with the pianist.
Finalists will be responsible for their own travel arrangements.
One Winner and one Runner-Up will be selected; a check of $2,000 for the winner and $1000 for the runner-up will be presented at the conclusion of the concert on May 17th.

Other Important Information

The artistic director will review videos and additional materials following February 15th. Applicants will be notified by March 1, 2026 if they have been selected to participate in the live final concert on May 16, 2026.
Colorado Bach Ensemble reserves the right to dismiss any application if it is found to be ineligible or misleading in any way.
Entry in this competition constitutes the contestant’s authorization to use their name, photograph, preliminary video submission and/or biographical information for publicity purposes on our website, through email, on our YouTube channel, and other social media outlets.
- CBE encourages participants to freely share and promote their video and participation in the competition through email and other social media outlets as well.
- Applicants should keep copies of all materials sent with their applications. CBE will not be returning documents or videos.
- Decisions of who moves on to the final round and ultimately wins the competition are final and not subject to questions, revisions, or appeal.
This year, each finalist will also receive a video recording of their finals performance that they can use to further promote their singing career.
In addition to the cash prizes, the winner and runner-up will have a chance to perform with CBE in future seasons at the discretion of the Artistic Director.

2026 Application Form DOCX

2026 Application Form (pdf format) PDF

Pay Registration via PayPal

A non-refundable application fee of $85.00 is required with the application.

Click the button below. If you have a PayPal account, you can use that, or pay with a credit or debit card. Email cbecompetition@gmail.com after you have shared your application materials via Google Drive Folder and paid your application fee to confirm receipt.

Pay Registration Fee

Christopher Short

Winner—2025

Christopher Short, bass-baritone, is a musician, arts administrator, and teaching artist from Raleigh, North Carolina. He hopes to use music as a bridge to connect people with their surrounding community…

Mara Riley

Winner—2023

Boston-based soprano Mara Riley strives to perform musically and authentically within every genre, though she feels especially drawn to Baroque and art song repertoire. She is currently pursuing a double…

Winner—2021

“Sonorous” (Opera News) and “Suave” (parterre box) baritone Harrison Hintzsche is a recitalist, concert singer, and ensemble musician who enjoys the unique challenge of interpreting a wide range of diverse…