Lotte Lenya Competition

Lotte Lenya Competition A theater singing competition that emphasizes wide-ranging repertoire and the acting of songs and arias within a dramatic context.

Top prizes of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000. Sponsored by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music. In 1998, to honor the centenary of the birth of Lotte Lenya (1898-1981), an extraordinary singer/actress and one of the foremost interpreters of the music of her husband, Kurt Weill (1900-1950), the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music established an annual Lotte Lenya Competition. The Lotte Lenya Competition

is a theater singing contest that emphasizes wide-ranging repertoire and the acting of songs and arias within a dramatic context. The competition recognizes talented young singer/actors, aged 19-30, who are dramatically and musically convincing in repertoire ranging from opera/operetta to contemporary Broadway scores, with a focus on the works of Kurt Weill.

06/23/2026

We’re all a little dreamy-eyed watching 2022 Lenya Competition alum Amanda J Sheriff perform “Mister Snow” from CAROUSEL! 🎶🎵

Amanda recently wrapped up her second year as a Studio Artist with The Atlanta Opera, made her musical theater debut as Sarah in RAGTIME with Opera Montana and sang the role of Yniold in Opera Baltimore’s PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE. ✨⭐️🎉

This summer, Amanda can be seen covering the role of Catherine in SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER with Bard Summerscape Fisher Center at Bard and performing Mozart’s REQUIEM with Greenville Symphony Orchestra!

06/10/2026

Matthew Dexter gives a spectacular performance of “Ol’ Man River” from SHOW BOAT by Kern/Hammerstein on the stage of the 2026 Lenya Competition Finals. Matthew is the recipient of the Award for Extraordinary Promise.

At the Finals, he also presented “I’ll Be Here” from THE WILD PARTY, “Lieben, Hassen, Hoffen, Zagen” from ARIADNE AUF NAXOS, and “O Tixo, Tixo, Help Me!” from LOST IN THE STARS.

Catch Matthew’s full performance on the ’s YouTube channel, linked in our bio!

06/09/2026

“Confession Aria” from DEAD MAN WALKING by Heggie/McNally is chillingly performed here by 2026 Lenya Competition award winner Erik Grendahl. Erik took home the Teresa Stratas Award for Outstanding Performance of an Opera Aria and the Audience Choice Award for his performance of “Me” from BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

Erik’s finals set also included:

🎵 “She Likes Basketball” from PROMISES, PROMISES

🎵 “A Rhyme for Angela” from THE FIREBRAND OF FLORENCE

🎵 “How Glory Goes” from FLOYD COLLINS

Watch Erik’s performance at the link in our bio, or on the Kurt Weill Foundation’s YouTube channel!

06/04/2026

“Do It Alone” from PARADE by Uhry/Brown, sung here by 2026 Lenya Competition Prizewinner . ✨✨✨

Missed the 2026 Finals? Catch up on Ilanna’s performance at the link in our bio or at the ’s YouTube channel. Her finals set also featured:

⭐️ “Simple Little Things” from 110 IN THE SHADE

⭐️ “Denn wie man sich bettet, so liegt man” from AUFSTIEG UND FALL DER STADT MAHAGONNY

⭐️ “Sta nell’Ircana pietrosa tana” from ALCINA

06/03/2026

2026 Lenya Competition Prizewinner sings “Pirate Jenny” from THE THREEPENNY OPERA by Kurt Weill/Bertolt Brecht. ⭐️🎵✨

Watch Claire perform this vengeful Weill showpiece — as well as “Falling In Love With Love from THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, “Padre, germani, addio” from IDOMENEO, and “Astonishing” from LITTLE WOMEN — at the link in our bio or on the ’s YouTube channel! 🎶

05/28/2026

“Disprezzata regina” from Monteverdi’s L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA is performed beautifully here by 2026 Lotte Lenya Competition top prizewinner . 🎶

Lila’s finals set also included “Mister Snow” from CAROUSEL, “Seeräuberjenny” from DIE DREIGROSCHENOPER, and “I Won’t Mind” by Blumenkrantz/Kessler/Saines. Head to the link in our bio or the ’s YouTube page to watch Lila’s full performance!

On May 9th, 2026, ten talented singer-actors delivered terrific performances in the 28th year of the Lotte Lenya Competi...
05/21/2026

On May 9th, 2026, ten talented singer-actors delivered terrific performances in the 28th year of the Lotte Lenya Competition Finals, with , and taking home the top prizes. ⭐️🏆✨🎶🎉

Disappointed to have missed the finals? The full video of Finals Day performances is available on the YouTube channel — just head to the link in our bio to find it! ⬆️

Announcing the winners of the 2026 Lenya Competition!1st Prize, $25,000: Lila Chrisp 2nd Prizes, $20,000 each: Claire Gr...
05/10/2026

Announcing the winners of the 2026 Lenya Competition!

1st Prize, $25,000: Lila Chrisp

2nd Prizes, $20,000 each: Claire Griffin and Ilanna Starr

Performance of Outstanding Opera/Operetta Selection, $6,000: Erik Grendahl

Award for Extraordinary Promise, $6,000: Matthew Dexter

Audience Choice Award, $3,000: Erik Grendahl

All remaining finalists receive $3,000.

Congratulations to all on an extraordinary day!!

05/08/2026

One of ten talented finalists, will perform live on the stage of Kilbourn Hall in Rochester, NY on May 9th! Here, she performs “Denn wie man sich bettet, so liegt man” from AUFSTIEG UND FALL DER STADT MAHAGONNY by Kurt Weill. Ilanna shares with us what she has learned about herself as an artist during the competition! ✨

Catch Ilanna’s finals performance this Saturday live or tune in to the livestream at kwf.org/2026-finals.

05/08/2026

performs “I Bought This Suitcase In New York” from FLIGHT by Jonathan Dove. ✈️ 🎶 Sadie is one of the 2026 Lenya Competition finalists competing for the top prize of $25,000 on May 9th.

At the 2026 finals, these ten talented singer-actors will each present a 15-minute program of four contrasting selections, before returning to the stage later that evening for a special concert of crowd-pleasers — the much-anticipated Audience Choice Award round!

Join us at Kilbourn Hall in Rochester, New York to hear all our finalists perform and help decide the Audience Choice Award winner. 🏆 Link in bio for more details.

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