Arpi Sinanyan Wins First Prize at NEUE STIMMEN International Vocal Competition

Arpi Sinanyan, a graduate of the Young Artists Opera Program (YAOP) at the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, won first prize in the women’s category at the NEUE STIMMEN (“New Voices”) International Vocal Competition in Germany, along with a €15,000 cash award.

The competition’s final round took place on October 9, 2026, at the Stadthalle concert hall in Gütersloh, Germany. The results were announced on October 10 by the Liz Mohn Foundation, the competition’s organizer.

Founded in 1987, the NEUE STIMMEN International Vocal Competition is held every two years to discover and support young opera singers.

In 2026, the competition received 1,126 applications from singers representing 69 countries. After the preliminary selection, 467 participants were invited to live auditions. A total of 41 singers from 18 countries qualified for the final stages. Of these, 16 advanced to the semifinals, and eight reached the final.

The nine-member international jury was chaired by Alexander Neef, Director of the Paris National Opera. The jury included directors and experts from leading opera houses in Europe and the United States.

At the final concert, the competitors were accompanied by the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vitali Alekseenok. The concert was broadcast on the international OperaVision platform.

Arpi Sinanyan is a graduate of the Young Artists Opera Program (YAOP) at the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The program supports the professional development of young singers, provides them with stage experience, and prepares them for international competitions.

In September 2026, Arpi Sinanyan won third prize at the Eva Marton International Singing Competition in Hungary.