Singing & Talent
Competitions

Auditions
Open to All UK Competitions
Band Competitions
Busking Competitions, Festivals and Events
School & College Singing/Talent Competitons
Online Singing/Talent Competitions
International Classical & Opera Competitions
International Talent & Vocal Competitions
Showcases
Songwriting Competitions
Music Competitions
Vocal & Music Competition Site Links

Singing, Songwriting and Talent Competitions are staged worldwide and cater for Amateur to Professional Vocalists.   There are competitions for all ages, styles, genres and standards some of which are available online.

We will endeavour to bring you information on all types of competiton for any standard of singer plus band competitions, battle of the bands etc., that you may find of interest.   Full information and downloadable entry forms or contact details are available from most sites listed.

The majority of singing and talent competitions listed will be UK or Open to International applicants.

International visitors may note that many of these competitions are open to any nationality although you may have to be a member of the organisation promoting the competition to participate.  We will endeavour to supply links to singing competitions in your country which will be available soon, however this is a huge job in itself and we would appreciate your help by sending us links and information or adding the listing to one of our free links pages - Thanks! ;-)

Singing Auditions

The following are listings of auditions for singers and the criteria may vary considerably so please check the sites directly for their latest information. For regularly updated auditions and casting call listings get The Stage Performance Newspaper.

• The Next Big Thing Competition 2010
  
  We are looking for any type of act including vocalists, bands, musicians, comedians, dance acts, acrobats, sports performers and magicians - anyone who can put on an amazing performance and become the new star of the events industry where the real money is! Win £1000, a contract with a top agency and free promotion of your act. Finals to be held at Event UK, 21-22 September 10 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information about the competition: http://www.event-uk.com/nbt

• Girl Band Auditions - Dollie Mix - Saturday 17th July 2010
  
  Date: Saturday 17th July 2010
  Time: 2-5pm
  Where: 141a Management Ltd, 99-103 Lomond Grove, London, Southwark, SE5 7HN.
  Age: 18-28
  Height: 5ft 3in-5ft 8inch
  Requirements: Great singing voice, ability to pick up dance routines, determined, hardworking, team player and ambitious.
  
  Please send details to mandy@dolliemix.com including your mobile number.
  All looks and styles of singing welcome to apply.
  
  Are you the new Dollie? Let's find out! visit http://www.myspace.com/dolliemix for information about the band

• Sing Your Heart Out
  
  Want to be on TV? Does your family wish it had been blessed with good singing voices? Do you all sing for fun and would like to take part in a singing challenge? SKY 1 Television is on the hunt for families who can sing. Professionals will try to turn successful applicants into a choir of angels in just three weeks. For further details ccall Emily Green on 0117 906 4350 or email emily.green@lovewest.co.uk

• Live and Unsigned music competition auditions
  
  Live and Unsigned 2011
  
  Free entry sign up offer for a limited time only!
  
  The National music competition for unsigned bands, vocal groups and solo artists to perform live. With over 10,000 registrations for the second year in succession, it is the biggest music talent search for original singers and acts to perform live in the UK. So be yourself; whether you want to perform a cover or your own song, you need to make it your own version.
  
  Live and Unsigned returns with a much improved competition structure, better venue's and prizes. Win a recording contract and single release and follow previous year's winners. This year's competition will be much bigger, better and more popular than ever!
  
  For more information, to enter the competition, visit www.LiveandUnsigned.UK.com

• SingerAudition (charity event)
  
  Auditions held annually - £15 entrance for solo artists and £25 for bands - audition fee going to Cancer Research
  
  This is a private audition and the contestants have to book and pay their donation first via the website on paypal. 70's icon and modern day publisher Bruce Ruffin is chairing the panel. There's a record deal and music video for the winner with Sudden Impact Records
  
  Singers Audition is a voluntary service dedicated to finding talent. You audition and if you are good enough, a fully produced original sound track and song will be arranged for you, again if it is good enough it will be submitted to all major record companies.

Showcases

The following are listings of showcases for singers, songwriters or performers and the criteria may vary considerably so please check the sites directly for their latest information. Regular weekly and monthly showcases are listed in the OPEN MIC NIGHTS section. For regularly updated showcases get The Stage Performance Newspaper.

• ITC UNSIGNED - In The City
  In The City 2008 will take place on October 5th, 6th and 7th, at The Midland hotel in Manchester England and at venues across the city.
  
  IN THE CITY Unsigned is one of the most sucessful new music showcase events for up and coming artists each year. Traditionally (since 1992) more guitar/rock orientated, this year ITC Unsigned is expanding, with specialised sections for Hip Hop, Urban, R&B, Pop,Metal, Acoustic, Alternative  Electronica.
  
  Unlike other music conventions and showcase events, there's NO pay-to-play and NO pay-to submit-demos policy. I appreciate you're busy, so I'm not going to wax lyrical about the pedigree of the event. If you are not familiar with it..click through to the ITC website for more info.
  
  Break ITC - The Artist Acadamy
  Break ITC takes place in parallel with IN THE CITY this year. It is a three day collection of free workshops, seminars, demo reviews, panels, interviews etc. One of Europes largest gatherings of artists and creatives.
  
  For more info. on both of the above, click through to http://www.inthecity.co.uk

Schools & College Singing/Talent Competitions

Usually open to the school, college or university students, however there are many inter-school competititons and a variety of organisations who provide workshops and competitions for students.  If your School, College or University is running a music competition please let us know !!

• Hertford Music Festival Young Soloists' Competition Saturday 15 May 2010, Bradby Hall, Haileybury College, Mangrove Road, Hertford. Entries are invited from young classical, rock, pop and jazz musicians aged 18 AND UNDER who live or go to school in the East Herts area. For more info and an entry form please email rodgersr@simonballe.herts.sch.uk with YOUNG SOLOISTS in the subject line OR COLLECT ONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL Please note that there is a nominal entry fee of £3 to cover administrative costs and entry forms must be returned by Friday 7th May 2010 and that times quoted are subject to change to accommodate as many entrants as possible.
  
  As in previous years, there are two age categories available for pianists, strings, brass, woodwind, vocals and electric or acoustic guitar. A panel of local and professional musicians will be on hand to assess the entrants but the event will be strictly informal to keep any stage fright to a minimum, emphasise the organisers.
  
  The categories, sponsored by Playsomething, are as follows:
  
  11 years and under
  Piano - 25.00 GBP
  Woodwind - 25.00 GBP
  Strings - 25.00 GBP
  Brass - 25.00 GBP
  Voice - 25.00 GBP
  Guitar (electric or acoustic) 25.00 GBP
  
  12-18 years
  Piano - 25.00 GBP
  Woodwind - 25.00 GBP
  Strings - 25.00 GBP
  Brass - 25.00 GBP
  Voice - 25.00 GBP
  Guitar (electric or acoustic) 25.00 GBP
  
  Prizes include a chance to play for around 2000 people at Hertford Castle Fun Day, Playsomething gift vouchers and a Hertford Music Festival Plaque.
  
  Information and listings of what’s on in May can be found at www.hertfordmusicfestival.co.uk, on www.facebook.com/hertfordmusicfestival and at hertbeat.com. Performers or sponsors wishing to be involved in the Hertford Music Festival should contact the Festival’s music director Kev Saunders without delay by email: kev@kevsaunders.co.uk

• UK Rock Challenge the UK arm of that Australian inspiration, Global Rock Challenge who have been running for twenty years. The UK arm of this organisation has been going for five years.   Schools or college teams of up to 134 students aged 11-to-18 enter our events.   They devise, choreograph, stage and perform their own creative-dance-drama production, to their own backing track and lighting scheme, with their own sets and appropriate makeup, hairstyles, costumes and props, in friendly competition with others.   Their team members also make a personal commitment to their team to be the best they can without the use of tobacco or alcohol products, solvents, or illegal drugs.

Online Singing Competitions

The following are Online Singing Competitions open to all.

Yobi Tv Online Singing Competition
Weekly competition for singer / songwriters who are legal residents of the USA or of a country with diplomatic relations with same, and of 18 years or older or 13 to 18 who have consent from parent or guardian to enter. Register and upload videos of your performance of original songs which are voted on by the public, best acts go through the semi-finals and then the finals.

Payperclip Global Online Talent Contest for Unsigned Artists
A new global online talent contest has been launched by an online self-service recording label which aims to give hope to the millions of wannabe singers and artists that offers cash prizes to music clips that attract the most votes on Payperclip, a self-service online recording label.

Payperclip, allows any artist to upload and to sell their music and video direct to a global audience without need for a recording contract or other endorsement.

The site also allows individuals to sell video content as well. We wanted to evolve the market created by YouTube into something which also offers commercial return for the user, says Taylor. By allowing people or companies to sell their video content, the site is opening a new stream of commercial possibilities for the phenomenal video-making community that YouTube has created. Think YouTube meets eBay.

I'm G Clothing Rap Contest
Go to YouTube and Subscribe to their account at: ImGee1. Enter the Rap Video Contest for chance to win $500

eSinger Online Singing Contest
Enter your best live video performance into the contest to compete for the grand prize. You may enter any genre and song which best represents your vocal abilities.

Dell AmpliChoir
This collaboration between Dell and MTV aims to create the largest choir of voices all singing the same song! To take part and have a chance of winning tickets to the MTV awards in Berlin visit Amplichoir

Quik Sessions Unsigned

Quik are searching for an amazing unsigned band, talented solo artist and a talented rock chick to be their ambassador. The winning artist/s will get to gig and party at events across Europe including Newquay, Glastonbury, Ireland and France.

To register and send in your video visit: QuickSessionsUnsigned

The WEK: Factor

FREE online singing competition, open to young singers aged 8 - 18yrs all over the world specially for talented young singers.

If you would like to participate or vote for your favourite artist, you must register and login first.

PRIZES:

- A professionally produced recording of your winners song
- A live performance in front of a packed audience at a West End Kids showcase or event
- Your professional recording sent and distributed to all the major record labels (Sony BMG, Polydor, EMI etc)
- Your very own website, a place for you and your music (with Facebook fan page!)
- An invitation to join the famous West End Kids or WEK: Training Company.

HOW TO ENTER: Entering is simple and straight forward. Create a free account, record your entry, send us the information and it will be placed here at the WEK: Factor website for everyone to vote on. The winner is decided by public vote.

To register visit: http://www.westendkids.co.uk/wekfactor/

Shure Creative Award
Following on from last year's success, Shure and the ICMP are delighted to announce the launch of the 2010 Shure Creative Award. Previously supported by K.T. Tunstall, the competition will this year be judged by sensational singer/songwriter Amy Macdonald. A rapidly rising star, Amy's critically acclaimed self-penned debut album, 'This Is The Life', went to number one knocking Radiohead off the top spot and has now sold over 2 million copies worldwide leading to many nominations for music awards. She continues to play sold out headline shows and festivals such as Glastonbury, Hyde Park, T in the Park and V Festival and having been discovered, produced and managed by production company Melodramatic Records who continue to work with her, she is signed to record company Vertigo.

If you are a singer/songwriter looking to emulate Amy and make a career out of your talent, why not take part in this year's competition? First prize is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend, free of charge, the fantastic one-year Professional Diploma in Songwriting course at the ICMP, Europe's leading school of modern music, worth over £5,000!

Being at the ICMP, you will be able to take part in regular live showcase events, professionally develop your talent and have direct access to leading industry insiders. The winner of last year's award, Kimya Razavi, has already played and performed at a range of London venues including the prestigious King's Place, and is currently preparing material for a live A&R showcase with Island Records.

All you have to do is upload an original song to the award website, www.shurecreativeaward.com, before April 17th 2009. A combination of an expert panel of judges plus public voting will select a top 10 and then Amy will be making her selection for this year's winner! Commenting on the award, Amy said:

I'm really pleased to be working with the ICMP by judging entries to the Shure Creative award. I think it's great that this competition exists to encourage and support the talent of developing singer/songwriters and I'm looking forward to hearing the entries over the coming months!

So what are you waiting for - this could be your chance, it could be your song chosen this year and you would have the chance to make a career out of your talent, not to mention win some amazing Shure gear! For further details on entry guidelines, terms and conditions or for further information visit the award website www.shurecreativeaward.com or contact the Institute directly on:

Tel: 020 7328 0222
email: enquiries@icmp.co.uk
Website: http://www.icmp.co.uk

• PopVideoStar
  Online video singing competition site. Winners get their own website as a prize plus some promotion for their new site
• Upstaged
  a brand new BBC entertainment event open to anyone across the UK who thinks they’re worth watching. In short, it’s like having your own studio where you can broadcast what you want to the nation live on the internet. Wannabe Contenders must make a profile of themselves online, including a description and video of their act or idea. The daily fate of the Contenders will lie with the online community. The Members will decide which acts make it through by watching their audition videos and voting for who they would like to see. The Contenders with the highest votes will go head-to-head on two specially built glass stages in the middle of Millennium Square, Bristol – of course. Here, they will try to entertain the nation for 6 hours straight. Their attempts will be streamed online and filmed for a BBC Three highlights show. After scrutinising their performance, the public will vote for their favourite act and the winner will stay on. The Champion will perform again the next day with a new Challenger brought forward to try and upstage them. The rivalry all comes to an end on the 30th March with the overall Champion winning something rather tasty. Contenders can be alone or in groups, professional or amateur, entertainer or intellectual, the best of the best or the best of the worst. If you like the sound of that and think you have something to share that’s worth watching, visit the site to enter.
• Mp3 Music Awards
  Unsigned artists/bands aged between 16 to 26 and looking for exposure, upload your original song and a photo to enter the competition. The finalists will be invited to perform live at the MP3 Music Awards, The Grand, 21 - 25 St Johns Hill, London SW11 1TT on 3 Dec 2007. The finalists will be filmed whilst they perform in front of a crowd of industry professionals and music lovers. Winners prizes include 3 year publishing agreement. Presentation CD Award. CD compilation album, A Quality Tube TLA Outboard unit. Portable MP4/MP3 Player. 12 months online exposure and a DVD master of the MP3 Music Awards.



• Online Idol
  Upload your singing and join the competition.



• Musician War
  Pit your skills against other singers online at Musician war online competition site. Competitions also available for guitarists, bass players, synth players, songwriters, teams (Paid membership costs $5 a month).



• ISuperstar
  Compete in live online singing competitions. Listen to great and terrible auditions. vote and comment on singing performances. Be an internet idol. Free to join



• Tune97 Online Singing Competition
  Register and submit your song for visitors to vote on. Membership and one submission free or pay $10 a month for unlimited submissions.



• Song Of The Year
  Online singing competition with monthly winners. 600 monthly winners and finalists throughout the year will get their music sent to leaders in the music industry including labels, publishers, management companies and 10 winning songs will be submitted at the end of the year to be considered for publishing by BMG Publishing. Catagories include Pop, Rock, Electronic/Dance, R&B/Hip Hop, Country/Americana, Acapella, Christian Contemporary/Gospel, Folk, Instrumental/Jazz/World and Lyrics. Fees are required for each song submitted $30 for 1st song $20 for each additional song and $5 for a song critique. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to VH-1's Save The Music Foundation. All contestants receive $30 of Broadjam’s METAJAM Software, $20 valued monthly subscription to Online Gigs. All copyrights remain with the author of the song (copyright your song prior to submission).



• Cyber Song Annual Contest sponsored by The Lotte Lehmann Foundation
  One of Lehmann's poems has been set to music and is required of all entrants. The other three selections are up to you, although one must be German and one French. Entry fee is $25.

International Talent & Vocal Competitions

The following International Talent Competitions are only available to the relevant countries citizens/residents or by invitation or membership. Application forms and full details are available at their site.

• Star Academy Middle East
  Annual popular pan-Arab TV talent show based on Pop Idol produced by Endemol (makers of Big Brother) and shown on The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC).



• Access Broadway has changed the face of traditional dance conventions/talent competitions forever! Mr. DeVito has combined a multi-versatile performing arts competition with the most complete and comprehensive performing arts workshop including dance, acting & voice classes. An All-Star staff of adjudicators and instructors, with extensive Broadway, TV and Film credits share their secrets of success with attendees throughout the country. The program also includes our Access Broadway Auditions specifically designed to properly prepare aspiring performers on the correct procedure of auditioning. In addition, we also have our own exclusive professional casting & talent management department that provides professional opportunities for many of our attendees. Studios in Mexico Canada, Australia are also taking part in this USA competiton. Catagories include Debut & Diva, Song & Dance, Broadway Production & Best Studio so check with you Voice Coach or Studio to see if they are participating and visit their site for full details.
  P.O. Box 432 Times Square Station
  New York, NY 10108
  Email: info@AccessBroadway.com



• Association of English Singers and Speakers
  'Paddocks'
  Park Lane
  Ashtead
  Surrey, KT21 1HD
  United Kingdom
  Tel Number: (44) 01372 275430
  
  Email.  Singing Competition - A nominal, non refundable, entry fee of £7.00 is charged to cover administrative expenses.   Next Competition: June 2002  Competition Held: Annually on an International level.



• Harmony Sweepstakes Annual Acappella Vocal Competition for groups of 3 - 7 singers. Heats & Finals are held in the USA and may perform originals, cover versions and/or a mixture of both.  A range of styles are covered including rock, pop, classical, jazz or whatever style the group prefers. Tapes are required for review before groups are accepted for the heats although previous entrants may have this requirement waived.



• NATS - National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards is an annual voice competition open to NATS members and their pupils.  The competition has several heats across the US & Canada and is classically orientated with finalists and semi-finalists receiving the opportunity to perform at the NATS bi-annual national convention.  Visit their site for full details, rules, regulations and downloadable/printable .pdf application form for this and the NATS VOCAL COMPOSITION AWARD which is open to composers.  Winners of previous competitons have appeared at their Bi-Annual international convention and on subsequently with Orchestras and Opera Companies throughout the world.



• Australian Singing Competitions- Level 4 Culwulla Chambers, 67 Castlereagh St, Sydney 2000, Australia.  Tel: +61-2-9231-4888, Fax: +61-2-9221-8201.  Email.  The Marianne Mathy Scholarship is open to all young Classical singers irrespective of level of attainment but must be is under the age of 26 years as at 23 June in the year the Scholarship is to be awarded.  To be eligible for nomination in the Opera Awards, a singer must have sung with one of Australia's professional opera companies. and applicants for either competition must be an Australian citizen or resident.  Participants must sing in 2 languages and there are several catagories to choose from but nominations must be in by May/June so this year its too late to enter but check out the site for full details & start rehearsing for next year!!

Music Competitions

• Great Britain - National Festival of Music for Youth - National Competition for under 25's.  Managing Director: Mr. Larry Westland, 102 Point Pleasant, London SW 18 IPP.  King's Road 23a, GB-London SW3 4RP.  Tel: ++44/181-870 96 24, Fax: +44/181-870 99 35.  E-mail.
  (Intermediate/Advanced)



• Ireland - Feis Ceoil.  Mr. F. Heneghan, Principal of the City of Dublin, College of Music, Chatham row, IR-Dublin 2.  Phone: ++353/1-77 88 20 or: ++353/1-676 76 35, Fax: ++353/1-78 47 38, or: ++353/1-676 74 29.
  (Intermediate/Advanced)

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