Forbes Prize Competition
Forbes Prize Competition
SAN DIEGO OPERA FORBES PRIZE COMPETITION 2026-2027
San Diego Opera is launching the first annual Forbes Prize Competition. Two standout vocalists will win a cash prize and a role in an upcoming season.
The Forbes Prize was established to honor the memory of James Forbes, a passionate opera lover and dedicated arts administrator who served San Diego Opera as a member of both the staff and the Board of Directors.
The deadline for online video submissions is October 31, 2026. Finalists will be notified by November 30, and the finals will be held in San Diego the weekend of January 8-10, 2027.
The minimum age to submit is 18, and you must be a US citizen to apply.
The two winners will be awarded cash prizes of $5,000 and $3,000 and will each receive a mainstage role in a future San Diego Opera production.
Please submit two contrasting arias in separate languages.
The Forbes Prize is made possible by:
Sopranos Investment Group
(Joann Clark, Joan Henkelmann, Carol Lazier, Ruth Leonardi, Sigrid Pate, and Sylvia Smith)
Julianne Larsen
Stacy Kellner Rosenberg
With additional support from:
Mary Dawe
Joan Henkelmann
Karen Jean Berger
Cherie Halladay
Corporate Sponsors
