International vocal comp brings talent to the Fort

FORT WAYNE – A vocal competition being held in Fort Wayne has generated more than 150 registered contestants. The Heartland Sings 2024 Vocal Competition has attracted submissions from across the country, as well as from Canada and Mexico, making it an international event.

“It is exciting to see all the submissions from emerging vocal professionals who are pursuing a career in the vocal arts,” said Maestro Robert Nance, president and founding artistic director of Heartland Sings.

Heartland Sings, Inc. is a nonprofit vocal music production company founded in 1997 and based in Fort Wayne. The organization creates a variety of vocal music productions and educational outreach programs to “change lives through song.”  

“The competition is meant to give a stage to great talent and to bring talented vocal artists to Fort Wayne,” said Nance. “This community already hosts great, local talent and wonderful arts programs. Heartland Sings is glad to be part of the vocal arts landscape and now we can share that with singers from outside Indiana.”

The competition started with a preliminary round of auditions via digital submissions for singers ranging in age from 22 to 35. Submissions included several videos that portrayed the talent and vocal ability of the competitor. The preliminary round concluded at the end of January. A panel of judges have spent the past few weeks reviewing the submissions and determining who will move to the semi-final round. Twelve semi-finalists will arrive in Fort Wayne in May to compete in-person across two days. The final round of competition will take place during Heartland Sings’ production of “A Night At The Opera” slated for May 22nd. Cash prizes await the top three competitors. In addition, one competitor from Indiana will be awarded the “Outstanding Indiana Artist Award.”

“The concert will merge the finalists with our Heartland Sings talent for a unique experience,” Nance said. “The night will feature an orchestra to accompany the singers, prepared pieces from the finalists and opera selections from Heartland Sings. The audience will get a dynamic concert that’s a once in a lifetime event that will conclude with the announcement of the winners.”

“A Night at the Opera” is a concert event open to the public slated for Wednesday, May 22nd at 7:30 p.m. at the Auer Performance Hall in the Rhinehart Music Center on the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.heartlandsings.com