Donald W. Wood, Sr. Vocal Competition is going VIRTUAL

AND APPLICATION FEES ARE BEING WAIVED!

All submissions will be judged with winners announced on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Presented by the New Orleans Opera Association in collaboration with Loyola University New Orleans, Tulane University and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

How to participate in the Virtual 2020 Wood Competition:

Download and read the Guidelines and Application instructions below.
The Application is a fillable PDF and once you download and complete it, click the Submit button at the bottom of the form.
If you are unable to complete the submission process as outlined below, please print out the application, fill out out, scan it and email it to Debby Wood at woodcompetition@ neworleansopera.org.
Please note, the deadline to participate is midnight, September 8, 2020.

Guidelines

Download

Application

Download

Click here to download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Need some help?

1. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, download a free version from the link above.
2. Once Adobe Acrobat is installed, click download under Application above.
3. When prompted to chose “Save” or “Open” chose Open with Adobe Acrobat.
4. Fill out the form.
5. Click the “Click Here to Submit Application” Button on the bottom of the application. You will be asked to chose “webmail” or “default mail application” – chose your preferred method and an email will open with the Application attached and ready to send.
6. Click send.

About the Competition

The Wood Competition is in its sixth year as a significant young artist entry vehicle into the professional realm of singing. Past participants have enjoyed regional, national and international celebrity as young artist professionals. The competition is a collaborative effort between the New Orleans Opera Association, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Tulane University, and Loyola University New Orleans.

All local and regional voice teachers are invited to enter their students for this contest, and the deadline for 2020 is midnight September 8, 2020. Two first-place winners (male and female) will be awarded $1,000 each; two second-place winners (male and female) will receive $500 each. Please download the guidelines and competition application above to share with others.

Created by New Orleans Opera board member, Debby Hirsch Wood in honor of her late husband Donald W. Wood Sr., the Wood family has granted funding for the competition to continue in perpetuity in his name. Donald Wood Sr. loved opera and was supportive of NOOA’s educational endeavors.

The 2020 Judges

Frank Convit

Frank Convit, described as singing with the “poignant power of a seasoned soloist” (Richard Balthazar Blog), has been captivating audiences with his rich timbre and ringing high notes.

Valerie Anne Jones Francis

Valerie Anne Jones Francis is a native of New Orleans and a proud product of the New Orleans Public School System. She is a 1979 graduate of McDonogh #35 where she studied under the capable tutelage of Mrs. Patricia Sallier Seals.

Kenya Lawrence Jackson

Kenya Lawrence Jackson currently serves as the Director of Music and Worship at St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Mandeville, LA where her duties include coordinating a large and diverse music program.

Click here to follow along on Facebook!

Previous Winners

View the list of the competition winners by year here.

Do you have questions?

Contact Debby Wood, Wood Competition Director (504) 931-3608 or
Email: woodcompetition@neworleansopera.org
OR
Dr. William Mouat, Education Director (504) 267-9535 at email:
education@neworleansopera.org