Renowned Spanish soprano Yolanda Auyanet has been appointed as the jury president for the X Concurso Internacional de Canto Alfredo Kraus. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Casa Palacio del Cabildo de Gran Canaria.

Taking place biennially, the competition will feature a distinguished panel including Isamay Benavente, director of Madrid’s Teatro Nacional de La Zarzuela; Giovanni Vitali, casting director of Florence’s Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino; Alessandro Galoppini, casting director of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala; Alessandro Di Gloria, artistic consultant for Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera; Javier Menéndez, general director of Seville’s Teatro de La Maestranza; and Ulises Jaén, general director of the Ópera de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Open to vocalists aged 18 to 33, the event is scheduled for September 21 to 27.

Auyanet, a celebrated opera singer, has graced stages worldwide, including the Ópera de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Turin’s Teatro Regio, Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela, and Genoa’s Teatro Caro Felice, among others.

The X Concurso Internacional de Canto Alfredo Kraus aims to discover and promote emerging talent in the world of opera, offering participants a prestigious platform to showcase their vocal abilities. The competition, named after the legendary Spanish tenor Alfredo Kraus, has a rich history of fostering young singers who have gone on to achieve international acclaim. This year’s event will include a series of rounds where contestants will perform a repertoire of arias and other vocal works, judged on criteria such as vocal technique, musicality, and stage presence.

Auyanet expressed her enthusiasm for her role, stating that she looks forward to mentoring and evaluating the next generation of opera singers. Her extensive experience performing on some of the world’s most iconic stages uniquely positions her to guide the jury in selecting winners who demonstrate exceptional promise. The competition will culminate in a grand final concert, where finalists will perform alongside a live orchestra, with awards presented to the top performers.