The 3rd annual Handel Aria Competition High School Singers Master Class will offer young singers a chance to experience the incredible music of Handel in a low-stress, supportive environment that celebrates their work and all things Handel.

It will be held on Saturday, February 21 at MYArts (1055 E Mifflin Madison, WI 53703) in conjunction with the Madison Youth Choirs. This event is open to all area high school age singers. Singers prepared all or part of a Handel aria  to the point where they were comfortable singing it to get feedback.

Participating singers will the chance to sing for a small, supportive audience, will receive thoughtful feedback from our artistic director, Grammy award winner Sarah Brailey. Each participant will get $100 to use for private voice study or participation in Madison Youth Choirs. Participation is limited to six singers. For more information, contact handelariacompetition@gmail.com.

The event is free and open to the public, so we encourage interested singers to come and support those participating.

The 2025 participants were Anya Isaac, Aria Johnson, Aimika Keilson, Onnalin Ketilson, Megan Streit and Elizabeth Younkle (not pictured).

Past High School Singer Events

The last Handel Aria Competition High School Singers Showcase before COVID took place  at Capitol Lakes in Madison, WI  on Saturday, February 8, 2020. Six local singers each presented a Handel aria, accompanied by pianist Scott Gendel.  That year’s concert had a special feature: it opened with the Choraliers, the youngest performing group from the Madison Youth Choirs, singing Handel’s famous ‘Ombra Mai Fu’ under the direction of Lisa Kjentvet.

The 2020 High School Singers Showcase above are, from left to right, accompanist Scott Gendel, Zoe Salypongse, Ava DeCroix, Daphne Buan, Elena Paul, Alanna Beilke, and Michael Chiaverini.

Our inaugural High School Singers Showcase, which took place January 26, 2019, featured five talented sopranos each singing one of Handel’s arias.  The singers were accompanied by Karlos Moser, University of Wisconsin Opera Director Emeritus, on piano. Founding artistic director Cheryl Bensman-Rowe and current artistic director Sarah Brailey started the program off with Handel’s lovely “Welcome as the dawn of day” duet from Solomon.    The 2019 High School Singers Showcase singers were Ava DeCroix, Daphne Buan, Cecelia League, Alanna Beilke, and Virginia Morgan.

Photos from 2020 by Tom Miller.