The Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition

The Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition The official page for The Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition presented by the New Orleans Opera Association. The Donald W. Donald Wood Sr.

Vocal Competition (Wood Competition) is a collaboration between the New Orleans Opera Association, Loyola University New Orleans College of Music and Fine Arts, Tulane University Department of Music, and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Beginning in 2015, the contest is open to all Louisiana high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The Wood Competition promotes artistic excellence, provi

des financial support to young vocalists, and encourages young local singers in vocal music. Created by board member Debby Hirsch Wood in honor of her late husband Donald W. Wood Sr., the Wood family has granted funding for the competition to continue in perpetuity in his name. loved opera and was supportive of NOOA’s educational endeavors. First-place award is $1,000
Second-place award: $600
Third-place: $400

For more information please contact:

Debby Hirsch Wood
Competition Director and Education Committee Chair
New Orleans Opera Association
[email protected]

🎵🏆 After much deliberation, our renowned judges Stella Markou, Anthony Offerle, Casey Robards, and Joshua Stewart have d...
09/29/2025

🎵🏆 After much deliberation, our renowned judges Stella Markou, Anthony Offerle, Casey Robards, and Joshua Stewart have decided the winners and the results are in...

The winners of The Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition for the 2025-2026 season:

🥇FIRST PLACE: MALIA SUGGS, SOPRANO | Senior
Award: $1,000
Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy And New Orleans Center For Creative Arts
Vocal Instructor: Phyllis Treigle

🥈SECOND PLACE: RAD JENNINGS, BARITONE | Sophomore
Award: $600
Benjamin Franklin High School
Vocal Instructor: Dreux Montegut

🥉THIRD PLACE: SUSANA CUARTAS, SOPRANO | Senior
Award: $400
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts
Vocal Instructor: Phyllis Treigle

🏅HONORABLE MENTION: AIDAN MOLAISON, TENOR | Senior
Award: $250
St. Martin’s Episcopal School
Vocal Instructor: Dreux Montegut

Congratulations to these talented students, we are excited to celebrate your impressive achievements! To all applicants and Finalists, thank you for sharing your time, creativity, and effort. Your participation has made this competition truly special, and we hope you’ll join us again for the 2026-2027 competition! 🏆🎶

A special 'thank you' to Amy Pfrimmer, Professor of Music and the Lilian Gerson Watsky Professor in Voice at Tulane University, where she has been voice area coordinator and director of the vocal music concert series since 2007. Her repertoire and creative work encompasses a wide range of music, with particular focus on Romantic and 20th-century opera, oratorio, concert literature, and song. Thank you, Amy Pfrimmer!

09/15/2025

Please note that the Wood Competition is set for SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2025,
at 2 PM.

09/12/2025

Announcing the seven Finalists who will be competing September 28, 2025, at Tulane University Dixon Hall 2 PM at the Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition:

TOBY ALFONSO, Junior, Brother Martin High School, Vocal Instructor: Dreux Montegut, First time competing in the Wood Competition.

JAMES ANDREWS, Sophomore, The Willow School, Vocal Instructor: Dreux Montegut, First time competing in the Wood Competition.

SUSANA CUARTAS,, Senior NOCCA, Vocal Instructor, Phyllis Treigle, Previously competed in the Wood Competition.
Won 2nd place in 2024-2025

TIMOTHY DAVIS, Junior, NOCCA, Junior, Vocal Instructor: Phyllis Treigle, First time competing in the Wood Competition.

RAD JENNINGS, Sophomore, Benjamin Franklin High School, Vocal Instructor: Dreux Montegut, First time competing in the Wood Competition.

AIDAN MOLAISON, Senior, St. Martin’s Episcopal School, Vocal Instructor: Dreux Montegut, First time competing in the Wood Competition.

MALIA SUGGS, Senior, Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy & NOCCA, Vocal Instructor: Phyllis Treigle, Previously competed in the Wood Competition

The Wood Competition's Finalist round will take place in person at Tulane on 9/28/25 2 pm. 🌟💚🌟✨💫
09/10/2025

The Wood Competition's Finalist round will take place in person at Tulane on 9/28/25
2 pm. 🌟💚🌟✨💫

08/29/2025

Submissions are now closed for the 2025-2026 Donald W. Wood Vocal Competition. Thank you to the exceptional vocal instructors and their dedicated students who have studied, worked hard, and developed a passion for opera.

Schools represented in the Wood Competition are:

Benjamin Franklin High School, NOLA

Brother Martin High School, NOLA

Holy Cross High School, NOLA

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, NOLA

Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, NOLA

St. Martin’s Episcopal School, NOLA

The Willow School, NOLA

08/06/2025
2025-2026 Vocal Students, find your submission form at https://www.woodvocalcompetition.com/formYou only need to prepare...
07/30/2025

2025-2026 Vocal Students, find your submission form at https://www.woodvocalcompetition.com/form

You only need to prepare 2 songs too! Make certain you look at the deadlines as well.

Check out the https://WoodVocalCompetition.com for more information.

ANNOUNCING THE 2025-2026 DONALD W. WOOD SR. VOCAL COMPETITION
The 2025-2026 Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition will feature a blend of virtual and in-person auditions as well as a winners’ performance.

The in-person segment of Finalists is scheduled to take place at the Tulane University Vocal Arts Festival & Symposium (“TUVAFS”) on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 2 PM.

1. PURPOSE

The Wood Competition aims to promote artistic excellence, financially support young vocalists, and encourage young local singers in vocal music.

2. PARTICIPANTS

Any Louisiana high school student in their sophomore, junior, or senior year during the 2025-2026 school year.

3. TIMELINES

Friday, August 1, 2025

OPEN: All Virtual Applications

Thursday, August 28, 2025 | 11:59 PM

DEADLINE: Virtual Applications Close

Friday, September 12, 2025 | Virtual Round

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINALISTS ONLINE from virtual applications at https://www.woodvocalcompetition.com, the Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition page https://www.facebook.com/WoodCompetition

The 6-8 Finalists from the virtual round will be chosen to showcase their talents in a live performance before a panel of esteemed judges: Casey Robards, Stella Markou, and Joshua Stewart at the TUVAFS. Piano accompanist, Lilliia Oliinyk, will be provided free of charge to the Finalist. https://www.lvopianist.com
Sunday, September 28, 2025 | 2 PM | Tulane’s Dixon Annex Recital Hall
Tulane University Vocal Arts Festival & Symposium
6-8 FINALISTS WILL COMPETE IN THE IN-PERSON ROUND FOR 1st, 2nd, AND 3rd PLACE. (Finalists who do not place will be given a “Finalist” Certificate and will be listed as a Finalist on social media and various websites along with the winners.)

3:00 PM Break and Judge Deliberation in the Dixon Annex Choral Room

3:15 PM Announcement of Wood Competition Winners in the Dixon Annex Recital Hall

3:30 PM Master Class for Festival Singers and Wood Competition Singers, as well as Tulane Students by Stella Markou, Guest Artist Master Teacher

5:00 PM WOOD COMPETITION WINNERS CONCERT

Various winners from the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Wood Competitions will perform at the Dixon Annex Recital Hall. Piano accompanist, Lilliia Oliinyk, will be provided free of charge to the Finalist.

6:00 PM Opening Reception

Immediately following the Wood Competition Winners Concert in the Dixon Annex Atrium

,

Apply Here: Please fill out and submit the form below. For questions or concerns, please email [email protected]. The 2025-2026 Wood Vocal Competition will feature a blend of virtual and in-person auditions as well as a winners’ performance at Tulane University's Vocal Arts Festiv...

To learn more about the Donald W. Wood Sr. Competition, go to:
05/09/2025

To learn more about the Donald W. Wood Sr. Competition, go to:

05/09/2025

1st Place: JONATHAN TRAN
2nd Place: SUSANA CUARTAS
3rd Place: TYREE ARSO
Honorable Mention: LILY ADAMS

Awards:
First Place - $1,000
Second Place: $600
Third Place $400
Honorable Mention: $250

The Donald W. Wood Sr. Winners will be invited to be featured in a winners’ concert during the 2025 Tulane Vocal Arts Festival & Symposium set for Sunday, September 28, 2025 (Time, TBD). All winners are invited to participate in one of the Festival’s master classes and are welcome to attend all Tulane Vocal Arts Festival & Symposium events.

A special 'thank you' to Amy Pfrimmer, Professor of Music and the Lilian Gerson Watsky Professor in Voice at Tulane University, where she has been voice area coordinator and director of the vocal music concert series since 2007. Her repertoire and creative work encompasses a wide range of music, with particular focus on Romantic and 20th-century opera, oratorio, concert literature, and song. We are proud to have her judge the 2024-2025 Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition. Thank you, Amy Pfrimmer!

Participating schools and cities:

Caddo Parish Magnet High School, Shreveport, Louisiana

Benjamin Franklin High School/NOCCA New Orleans, Louisiana

Eleanor McMain Secondary School/New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana

Mount Carmel Academy, New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana

St. Mary’s Dominican High School, New Orleans, Louisiana

FIRST PLACE WINNER: JONATHAN TRANSenior, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans, LouisianaFirst time competin...
05/09/2025

FIRST PLACE WINNER: JONATHAN TRAN
Senior, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana
First time competing in the Wood Competition
Vocal Instructor: Phyllis Treigle
YouTube Link #1: https://youtu.be/or2y--Rn21A
Au bord de l'eau - Faure

YouTube Link #2: https://youtu.be/fPZ1dI95IfQ
Vaga luna, che inargenti - Vincenzo Bellini

YouTube Link #3: https://youtu.be/extUIWA_VLY
O Mistress Mine - Gerald Finzi

SECOND PLACE WINNER: SUSANA CUARTASJunior, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana, Participated p...
05/09/2025

SECOND PLACE WINNER: SUSANA CUARTAS
Junior, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana, Participated previously in the Wood Competition,
Vocal Instructor: Phyllis Treigle

YouTube Link #1. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PPWtbtrSw1c
Wie melodien zieht es mir, Art Song, Johannes Brahms

YouTube Link #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UIDIrSUDb4
Silent Noon, Art Song, Ralph Vaughn Williams

YouTube Link 3: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/is9HCcDj_uI
Il fervido desiderio, Art Song, Vincenzo Bellini

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The Donald W. Wood Sr. Vocal Competition (Wood Competition) is a collaboration between the New Orleans Opera Association, Loyola University New Orleans College of Music and Fine Arts, Tulane University Department of Music, and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Beginning in 2015, the contest is open to all Louisiana high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The Wood Competition promotes artistic excellence, provides financial support to young vocalists, and encourages young local singers in vocal music. Created by board member Debby Hirsch Wood in honor of her late husband Donald W. Wood Sr., the Wood family has granted funding for the competition to continue in perpetuity in his name. Donald Wood Sr. loved opera and was supportive of NOOA’s educational endeavors. One male and one female vocalist will be awarded a first-place of $1,000 each, and one male and one female vocalist will be awarded a second-place prize of $500 each. For more information please contact: Debby Hirsch Wood Competition Director and Education Committee Chair New Orleans Opera Association [email protected] (504) 267-9537 or cell: (504) 931-3608