41st Annual Heida Hermanns International Voice Competition Set for 12/1 & 2

The 41st annual Heida Hermanns International Voice Competition, a two-day event presented by the Connecticut Alliance for Music (CAM) with the support of the Westport Arts Center, will bring together young musicians from around the world at Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, on Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2. The bi-annual competition is named for the late Heida Hermanns, a world-class concert pianist and music lover, who lived in Westport for more than 40 years. Media Sponsor is WSHU Public Radio.

Judged by professional musicians, the competition offers talented vocalists, ages 19 to 35, an opportunity to compete for cash prizes – first prize, $5,000; second prize, $2,500; third prize, $1,500; and three honorable mentions, $500 each.

The semi-finals on Saturday, December 1, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., are free-of-charge and open to the public. Each of the competitors will give a 20-minute performance before a panel of professional judges throughout the day. Audience members are free to come and go. At the end of the day, judges will select those who will move on to the finals concert on Sunday, December 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. Finalists will each perform a program selected by the judges to demonstrate musical virtuosity and skill. At the conclusion of the performances, the audience is invited to a reception while the judges determine the top three winners. Tickets to the Sunday finals are $20 for adults; free for ages 18 and younger.

Honorary Chairman of the competition is Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, D.S.M., of Fairfield, one of America's preeminent conductors of collegiate, community, and professional choral ensembles.

For more information and tickets on The Heida Hermanns International Voice Competition, call the Westport Arts Center at 203-222-7070, M – F, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit http://heidahermannscompetition.org.