Hosted by Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan) with world premiere performances by Sarah Rosales and Wayne Mkhize (winners of the 2023 and 2024 Karen Slack prize in composition), and 2024 prize winners Amber Rogers and Sloane O'Neill, accompanied by Dr. John Morefield, Dr. Sarah Thune and Dr. Muse Ye. Guest speakers: Dr. Christine Jobson (Denyce Graves Foundation), Dr. Darius Gillard (Vice President for Impact, Minnesota Opera).

The George Shirley Vocal and Composer Competition focuses entirely on African American Vocal Repertoire and is open to competitors of all ethnicities. The competition offers singers and composers the opportunity to work with and receive feedback from world-renowned judges, including George Shirley. We award over $44,000 in scholarships across 5 divisions.