The International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch (IVC); is a music competition for classical singing founded in 1954. It is the only classical vocal competition in the Netherlands that also focuses, besides opera, oratorio and Lied.
This yearly event is organised by the International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch (IVC). The IVC is a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions since 1959. The IVC offers singers the chance to perform for casting directors, concert managements, impresarios, the media and a concert and theatregoing audience.
Alongside its competition the IVC also presents master classes, workshops, summer schools and concerts. Concerts are organised in collaboration with various organisations. The IVC also provides advice on repertoire, career possibilities, media management and auditioning.
The IVC has helped launch the careers of many internationally renowned singers (see List of notable IVC alumni). Annett Andriesen, herself an opera singer and a prizewinner of the IVC in 1975, was head of the IVC from 2008 until 2018. She has since been replaced by Ivan van Kalmthout. From 1 September 2023, British countertenor Andrew Watts has been appointed General and Artistic Director of the IVC.
The IVC is open to singers of all nationalities who have had conservatory training or have reached an equivalent level. The competition has two categories: Opera/oratorio and Lied Duo. For Preliminary Rounds, Rules & Regulations see the IVC website.
List of notable IVC alumni
| Year | Edition | 1st Prize | 2nd Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 1 | Annette de la Bije, Aukje Karsemeyer, Hans Wilbrink, Frans Meulemans | Henriëtte Willems, Tim Jacobs |
| 1955 | 2 | Eva Bornemann, Jean Capiaux | Arjan Blanken, Willem van der Sluys, Haasteren van Albert |
| 1956 | 3 | Elly Ameling, Adna Graham, Halina Lukomska, Ladeslav Mraz | George David Galliver, Günther Wilhelms |
| 1957 | 4 | Maria van Dongen | Valerie Cardnell, Ranken Bushby, Derek Stroud |
| 1958 | 5 | Elisabeth Simon, Ranken Bushby | Halina Slonicka, Maria Antonietta Sighele, Aurelio Estanisko, Bernard Kruysen |
| 1959 | 6 | Arthur Loosli, Zofia Janukowicz, Mariëtte Dierckx | Maya Breier, Lia Rottier, Juliana Falk, Djurdjevka Cakarevic, Harold Gray |
| 1960 | 7 | Karoly Schmidt, Lisé Arséquet, Irene Mierzwiak, John Wakefield | Sigurdur Björnsson, Bert Olsson |
| 1961 | 8 | Thomas Carey, Yvonne Minton, Alfons Bartha | Olga Maddalena, Karin Oster, Margaret Duckworth, Kenneth John Bowen, Hendrik Smit, John Wiles |
| 1962 | 9 | Jules Bastin, Zofia Anna Wilma | Julijana Anastasijevic, Frederick Gersten, Richard Novák |
| 1963 | 10 | Dan Iordachescu, Margaret Duckworth | Rina Cornelissens, Eva Debrowska, Lucienne van Deyck, Jean Jacques Schreurs, Antoni Dutkiewicz, Peter Leeming |
| 1964 | 11 | Janka Békas, Borena Kinas-Mikolajczak | Marie Hayward, Anne Malewicz-Madey, Geoffrey Shovelton, Patrick Costeloe |
| 1965 | 12 | Viorica Cortez, Ileana Cotrubaș, Siegmund Nimsgern | Faith Pulston Jones, Pompeiu Harasteanu |
| 1966 | 13 | Marina Krilovici, Ludovic Spiess | Ana Maria Miranda, Norma Lerer, Marco Bakker |
| 1967 | 14 | Louis Williams, Stefanka Popangelova | Sally Le Sage, Heljä Angervo, Nigel Wickens, Josef Loibl |
| 1968 | 15 | Hans-George Dahmen, Csilla Zentai | Angela Beale, Wendy Eathorne, Ria Bollen, Oriel Sutherland, Ilie Baciu |
| 1969 | 16 | Maria Slatinaru, Else Paaske, Walker Wyatt | Leslie Johnson, Karl Markus, Hubert Waber, Maurice Brown |
- Elly Ameling
- Jules Bastin
- Measha Brueggergosman
- Ileana Cotrubaș
- Viorica Cortez
- Veronica Amarres
- Peter Gijsbertsen
- Robert Holl
- Thomas Hampson
- Howard Haskin
- Nadine Koutcher
- Petra Lang
- Yvonne Minton
- Nelly Miricioiu
- Jard van Nes
- Yevgeny Nesterenko
- Vladimir Pankratov
- Lenneke Ruiten
- Wolfgang Schöne
- Elżbieta Szmytka
- Thomas Thomaschke
- Stefania Toczyska
- Pretty Yende
- Ruth Ziesak
56th International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch 2023 - LiedDuo
The 56th Competition will be held from 10 - 15 October at various locations in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
Baritone Bo Skovhus will be Jury President of the 56th International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch (IVC), category LiedDuo.
The IVC offers young and talented singer-pianist duos the chance to perform for an international jury, casting directors, concert managements, impresarios, the media and public. The total prize money of the competition amounts to € 20,000. The IVC is open to singers and pianists of all nationalities. Candidates for this year’s competition can apply for several First Round auditions by submitting their application via YouTube.
Besides Jury President Bo Skovhus, the International Jury includes mezzo-soprano and IVC prizewinner Sophie Koch, composer Errollyn Wallen, pianist Stefan Vladar, Pianist Nino Gvetadze and pianist Hans Eijsackers.
For the first round, the candidates send in a YouTube video. The video jury panel consists of Charlotte Margiono (soprano), Peter Gijsbertsen (tenor), Ed Spanjaard (pianist/conductor) and Mauricio Fernandez (casting director). IVC director Ivan van Kalmthout is the jury chairman.