XVI Concurso San Miguel 2025
Winners:
Génesis Moreno, 1st prize,
Jacqueline del Rocío Medina, 2nd prize,
Élida Rocha, 3rd prize,
Concurso San Miguel XVI
The 16th edition of Concurso San Miguel was held on March 1, 2025 at the Ángela Peralta Theater in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.
A total of 18 awards were offered to 9 singers, with monetary prizes—from $10,000 pesos to $75,000 pesos—, as well as several scholarships for international summer workshops and a national diploma scholarship; direct pass to participate in the semifinal stages of two competitions (one national and one foreign); awards for auditioning and singing abroad; prizes for vocal development classes with outstanding teachers; and scholarships for contractual legal advice as independent artists.
Before the final gala, the finalists participated in an intensive week of lectures and presentations, masterclasses, rehearsals and career advice sessions.
CASH PRIZES
The “Maestro John Bills” First prize, $75,000 pesos: Génesis Moreno, soprano
The “Amistad Canada” Second prize, $50,000 pesos: Jacqueline del Rocío Medina, soprano
The “Angels of OSM” Third prize, $25,000 pesos: Élida Rocha, mezzosoprano
The Pro Opera Audience Prize, $20,000 pesos: Génesis Moreno, soprano
The Ópera San Luis Prize, $15,000 pesos: Teresita del Carmen Mena, mezzosoprano
Encouragement Grants, $10,000 pesos each, to both special guests: Paula Espinoza Pavlovich, soprano; and Brandon Rufino Castillo, tenor.
FULL SCHOLARSHIPS
The Highlands Opera Studio Award: a full scholarship to attend the HOS in Highlands, Ontario, Canada for five weeks, to sing the role of Danilo in Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow: Rodolfo Ituarte, baritone.
The Steans Music Institute Award a three-week fellowship at the Ravinia Center in the state of Illinois for its 2026 summer festival: Élida Rocha, mezzosoprano.
The Fundación Arte contra la Violencia Award: a full scholarship for a diploma program specializing in Mexican Opera, and participation in a program for creating new opera as a soloist singer for season 2026-2027: Ángel Gómez, countertenor.
The Escena 77 Producciones Award: an invitation to sing a role in an opera production for season 2026: Mayela López, mezzosoprano.
SPECIAL AWARDS
The Pro Música Award: an invitation to sing in an upcoming event during the 2025-2026 season of Pro Música de San Miguel de Allende: Génesis Moreno, soprano.
The Iván López Reynoso Award: three sessions with the maestro on how to build an opera character: Jacqueline del Rocío Medina, soprano.
The Grupo Árinder Award: one year of contractual legal advice for all the singers participating in Concurso 2025: to all the finalists and special guests.
COMPETITION AWARDS
The 2025 Carlo Morelli Competition Award: direct pass to the semi-final stage of the 42nd anniversary of the Carlo Morelli National Singing Contest in Mexico City, on June 6, and if he or she is lucky, on to the finals on June 15: Génesis Moreno, soprano.
The 2026 Concurso Maria Callas Award: direct pass to the semi-final stage of the 2026 Maria Callas Singing Competition in São Paulo, Brazil, in the spring of 2026 (to the winners of the 1st and 2nd prizes in Concurso 2024): Génesis Moreno, soprano; and Jacqueline del Rocío Medina, soprano.
THE JUDGES AWARDS
The “Alain Nonat” Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques Award: a week in the autumn in Montreal to sing in a concert and audition for several international opera directors, and performance opportunities: Ángel Gómez, countertenor.
The Meiningen Award: a three-month contract to sing the role of Mimì in the opera La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini, and participate in several concerts during the 2025 winter season at the Staatstheater Meiningen in Germany: Génesis Moreno, soprano.
The Jane Bunnell Award: six singing lessons for vocal development for the three mezzosopranos: Mayela López, Teresita del Carmen Mena and Élida Rocha.
JUDGES
Jane Bunnell, professor of voice at Michigan State University’s College of Music, and Concurso San Miguel XVI master-teacher
Cori Ellison, vocal department, Juilliard School, New York, United States
Jens Neundorff von Enzberg, intendant, Meiningen State Theater, Germany
ARTISTIC TEAM
Mario Alberto Hernández, pianist
Charles Oppenheim, artistic director, Opera de San Miguel