"STOYAN POPOV" 2025 COMPETITION - CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
The Third International Competition for Opera Singers "Stoyan Popov" 2025 will be held from October 26 to 30, 2025, in two rounds, in which the candidates will perform on the stage of the State Opera - Burgas with piano accompaniment.
The draw will be made on October 26 at 6:00 p.m.
The competition program includes:
October 27 - Round 1
October 28 - Round 2
October 29 - Rehearsal of the laureates with the Orchestra of the State Opera - Burgas
October 30 - Gala Concert of the laureates with the Orchestra of the State Opera - Burgas
Participants who fail to appear in the specified order will be disqualified.
No changes are allowed in the competition program attached to the application.
Regulations:
Opera singers (Bulgarian and foreign), both men and women, up to 40 years old, participate in the competition.
The composition of the jury is determined by the organizers of the competition.
Applications for participation in the Third International Competition for Opera Singers "Stoyan Popov" 2025 can be submitted electronically to the official email of the competition: competitionstoyanpopov@gmail.com, or to the office of the Human Resources Department in the building of the State Opera - Burgas (address: 2 Kliment Ohridski Street, 8000, Burgas).
Required documents:
• Application form
• Current high-resolution portrait photo - 300 DPI format
• Professional biography in Bulgarian, for foreign candidates - in English - maximum 1 page, European format
• Document for paid 130 BGN participation fee. The fee is transferred by bank transfer to the account of the State Opera – Burgas:
BIC: UNCRBGSF
IBAN: BG17UNCR96603119073010
PAYMENT BASIS:
"STOYAN POPOV" OPERA SINGERS COMPETITION 2025
Deadline for submission of documents – October 19, 2025
Competition program:
The first and second rounds will be with piano accompaniment, on the main stage in the hall of the State Opera – Burgas, with the candidates providing their own accompanist or the organizers can provide one against payment by the candidate, which is indicated in advance in the form.
For an accompanist provided by the organizers – 40 BGN per rehearsal (up to 1 hour – 60 min.), 60 BGN for appearing at the competition.
Registration fees are non-refundable.
The competition is held in two rounds:
• Round I – candidates perform a song or aria of their choice by a Bulgarian composer and an aria of their choice by a Slavic composer.
• Round II – candidates perform 1 aria of their choice (different from those performed in Round I) and one aria from an opera by Giuseppe Verdi.
o Auditions are held by voice type and in the order of the draw drawn the day before the start of the competition (26.10.2025) at 6:00 PM in the hall of the State Opera – Burgas
o All arias, text, and music are performed by heart in the original key at a standard of 440 Hertz, in their entirety.
Clothing requirements:
Please make sure that you bring your appropriate clothing for the audition for your performance at the competition.
Formal attire for the closing gala is mandatory.
Travel and accommodation expenses are not covered by the organizers.
The Organizers will provide accommodation at preferential prices to those who have applied for participation by September 30, 2025.
Arrival in Burgas and drawing of the curtain – on October 26 of this year at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby of the State Opera – Burgas
Competition schedule:
10/27/2025 – First round: from 10:00 a.m.
10/28/2025 – Second round: from noon.
10/29/2025 – rehearsals of the laureates with the Orchestra of the State Opera – Burgas
10/30/2025 – dress rehearsal of the laureates with the Orchestra of the State Opera – Burgas from 11:00 and a final gala evening of the laureates with the Orchestra of the State Opera – Burgas and official closing of the Third International Competition for Opera Singers “Stoyan Popov” 2025 from 19:00.
At the Gala Concert, the laureates of the competition will perform with the Orchestra of the State Opera – Burgas one or two arias from their competition program, determined by the jury after the II round.
Jury:
1. KALUDI KALUDOV – opera singer (tenor), vocal pedagogue – chairman of the jury
2. Prof. Dr. NIKO ISAKOV – opera singer (baritone), vocal pedagogue at the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”
3. Prof. Dr. TONI SHEKERDZHIEV-NOVAK – opera singer (soprano), vocal pedagogue at the Academy of Music and Theatre Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” – Plovdiv
4. Assoc. Prof. Dr. GABRIELA GEORGIEVA - opera singer (soprano), soloist of the Sofia Opera and Ballet, vocal pedagogue at the National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" - Sofia
5. Prof. Dr. ALEXANDER TEKELIEV – opera director, director of the State Opera – Burgas
Awards:
The jury determines the following awards:
- For women – three awards (First prize - 3000 BGN and participation in a performance at the State Opera – Burgas, Second prize – 2000 BGN, Third prize – 1000 BGN)
- For men – three awards (First prize - 3000 BGN and participation in a performance at the State Opera – Burgas, Second prize – 2000 BGN, Third prize – 1000 BGN)
The jury has the right not to award all awards.
The decisions of the jury are final.
The winners of the awards in the following categories will participate in the final concert.