Winner – Kim Leeds

This was a vocal competition with a twist.  The repertoire was all baroque and the prizes were the soloist spots in upcoming performances of Zelenka’s Missa Omnium Sanctorum.  To some extent that dictated the format with three bass-baritones, three tenors and three altos (two mezzos and a countertenor) competing and a prize winner in each triad.  Each singer had to offer the appropriate piece from the Zelenka Mass plus a piece of their choice by each of Bach and Handel.  I did wonder whether I would get through an afternoon of twenty seven baroque vocal pieces but aided by free pizza and cookies I made it.  At least, for once, I was at a singing competition where nobody would be singing Pierrot’s Tanzlied.

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