Friday, January 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Martin Center for the Arts Powell Recital Hall
The Robert LaPella High School Vocal Competition honors the legacy of Mr. Robert
LaPella, a highly esteemed music professor at ETSU who taught from 1962 to
1997. This competition celebrates young vocal talent and promotes excellence in
classical performance.
The Competition is open to talented high school singers who:
Are currently enrolled in their freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school
Are no older than 19 years of age on the day of the competition
Contestants must own original scores of their repertoire. While original scores are not required at the competition, copyright laws must be observed.
Participants must prepare to present three musical compositions from standard, classical, and musical theatre vocal literature. The repertoire must include:
Selections from different periods, languages, and styles
At least one of the selections should be in English
Prizes are as follows:
1st Prize
$1000
2nd Prize
$800
3rd Prize
$600
Most Promising Freshman or Sophomore
$250
After the competition has ended, winners will be announced live at the venue. Each winner will select one piece from their repertoire to perform during a concert on the evening of the competition.
The competition is open to the public. Audience members are encouraged to sit in designated areas and enter or exit between the performances to minimize disruption and ensure a seamless experience for performers and judges alike.
Competitor Registration DUE: Sunday, January 13th
Please verify the application deadline for our competition on the application form
A non-refundable application fee of $35 is required.
Register here!
Link to Competition Rules and Regulations
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