Madison’s internationally-renowned Handel Aria Competition hopes to present its 3rd annual High School Singers Showcase, in conjunction with the Madison Youth Choirs, in the fall of 2023 or the spring of 2024. This event was established to encourage local high school singers to explore Handel’s music. It will feature six to eight young singers performing Handel arias. Each participating singer will receive a $100 scholarship towards private voice lessons or membership in the Madison Youth Choirs.

Singers interested in participating should contact us at HandelAriaCompetition@gmail.com.

The 2nd Handel Aria Competition High School Singers Showcase took place  at Capitol Lakes, 333 West Main Street in Madison, WI at 2:00 on Saturday, February 8, 2020. Six local singers each presented a Handel aria, accompanied by pianist Scott Gendel.  This 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 by Tom Miller.