„Alexandru Fărcaș” International Vocal Competition
23–27 September 2026, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students enrolled in higher music education institutions, aged between 18 and 30 years, having reached this age by 27 September 2026. All graduates of the 2025–2026 academic year are eligible, who fall within the specified age limit
The repertoire must be performed from memory and is selected by the competitor.
Repertoire:
For Round I (Preliminary Round):
- One opera or operetta aria from the Romanian or international repertoire (video recording: YouTube link).
Recording requirements:
- Piano or orchestral accompaniment;
- Recorded in 2025 or 2026;
- No audio or video editing;
- Fixed camera angle, single camera;
- Studio recordings or recordings made with a mobile phone are accepted.
For Round II (Live Round):
- Two opera or operetta arias (different from the one performed in Round I);
- One lied from the Romanian repertoire (by Romanian composers, in one of the following languages: Romanian, Hungarian, English, German, or French). Examples of lied may be downloaded from the following link: Lied.
Registration
Registration is completed by filling in the online form no later than 9 August 2026, 23:59. No application fee is charged for Stage I.
COMPETITION STAGES
Round I – Preliminary Selection (Online)
Period: 10–17 August 2026
The jury will evaluate the YouTube link containing the video recording of the arias submitted by the contestants.
Evaluation will be made on a Pass / Fail basis.
Results will be communicated by email by 23 August 2026.
The participation fee for Stage II (live) is:
400 RON / 80 EURO, payable to one of the following accounts:
- RON: RO21BTRLRONCRT0674578601
- EURO: RO68BTRLEURCRT0674578601
The confirmation email for participation in Stage II (live) will be sent by 1 September 2026 and shall include:
- proof of payment of the participation fee
- proof of payment for accommodation (if this option was requested in the application form)
Information: contact@acaf.ro
Round II – Live Competition
23 September 2026, 17:00
– Official opening and drawing of the performance order.
24–25 September 2026, 10:00
– Live competition rounds, held in the Academicum Amphitheatre of the Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music, Cluj-Napoca.
Two works, selected by the jury from the three submitted, will be performed:
- One aria;
- One Romanian lied (optionally transposed to a comfortable vocal range).
The jury’s decision regarding the selected works will be communicated to competitors by 23 August 2026.
Public access is free, subject to seating availability.
LAUREATES’ GALA
27 September 2026, 10:00 – Final rehearsal
27 September 2026, 19:00 – Laureates’ Gala
Héritage Hall, Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music
All laureates will participate in the Gala Concert.
The jury will determine the works to be performed from among those presented in the competition.
AWARDS
5 000 EURO
Grand Prize„Alexandru Fărcaș”
3 500 EURO
First Prize
2 500 EURO
Second Prize
1 500 EURO
Third Prize
1 000 EURO
Special prize for the youngest meritorious performer
1 000 EURO
Special Prize for Romanian lied
1 000 EURO
Special Prize
500 EURO
x 5 Honourable Mentions
A role in the 2026–2027 season of the Romanian National Opera Craiova
The “Elena Teodorini” Prize
A role in the 2026–2027 season of the Hungarian Opera of Cluj-Napoca
The “Éva László” Prize
A role in the 2026–2027 season of the Romanian Opera Brașov
Accompaniment, Accommodation, Programme
Upon request, the organisers may provide official accompanists free of charge.
Upon request, accommodation (for a fee) may be arranged in student residence facilities.
Rate: 200 RON / 40 EURO per person for the entire duration of the competition, 23–28 September 2026
Accommodation fees shall be paid into the following accounts: (Beneficiary: ANMGD):
- RON – RO09BTRL01301202919656XX CUI 4722471
- EURO – RO43BTRL0130420291965603 CUI 4722471
Transportation is not provided by the organisers.
The schedule declared in the registration form is final.
Failure to appear at the scheduled time results in disqualification.
JUDGING
The evaluation will be carried out by a jury composed of prominent figures from Romanian and international musical life, chaired by mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose.
In the event that a competitor is a student of a jury member, the evaluation will be conducted by the alternate jury member.
Evaluation Criteria
- Vocal qualities (timbre, technique);
- Phrasing, intonation, diction;
- Stage presence and expressiveness;
- Cohesion of the voice–accompaniment relationship.
Scoring is from 5 to 10.
The jury’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
N.B. Prizes may not be shared among multiple contestants. In duly justified cases, the jury reserves the right to increase the number of prizes.
COMPETITION JURY
COMPETITION ENTRY FORM
REGULATIONS
By registering for the Competition, competitors assume responsibility for the program’s compliance with the Competition Regulations, recognize the authority of the jury, agree to the storage and processing of personal data for the purpose of organizing the competition in accordance with the legislation in force, and cede to the “Alexandru Fărcaș” Cultural Association the rights to record and broadcast the official audio-video materials made during the competition.
For additional information, you can contact us by e-mail: