The Rochester Oratorio Society recently announced the winners of the 2025 Rochester International Vocal Competition (RIVC).
In its 18th year, RIVC has grown from a local talent showcase to a prestigious international competition.
This year’s finalists, selected from a pool of 136 applicants, competed before a live audience and celebrity judge Evans Mirageas. Mirageas is the artistic director of Cincinnati Opera and one of the most influential voices in opera today. He noted that all three winners gave exceptional performances that were not only technically impressive but also sung from the heart.
The 2025 winners are:
•1st Prize: Maximillian Jansen is a versatile tenor known for his vibrant artistry on both the operatic and concert stage. He is fresh from performances with Opera Saratoga and the Berkshire Opera Festival.
•2nd Prize: Yazid Gray, a baritone hailed as “a vocal chameleon,” with recent roles at Arizona Opera, Salt Marsh Opera and major concert appearances nationwide.
•3rd Prize: Catherine Psarakis, a Greek American soprano praised for her commanding stage presence and sparkling coloratura, has appeared with orchestras across the U.S. and Europe.
“We are fortunate to hear extraordinary talent at a pivotal moment in their careers,” said Eric Townell, artistic director of the Rochester Oratorio Society. “Our winners are artists who will soon grace stages worldwide – and Rochester gets to hear them first.”
A showcase video featuring performances from the three winners and Yaffa Ovsishcher, the winner of the Joe Eduardo Emerging Artist Award, will be available for streaming at http://www.rossings.org on June 13, 2025. Viewers will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite performance.
The Rochester International Vocal Competition is a key initiative in the Oratorio Society’s commitment to music education and the advancement of young artists. Proceeds support ROS’s outreach programs, including youth education partnerships and free public performances. This program is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including the Opera Guild of Rochester and Insero Advisors LLC.
For more information, visit http://www.rossings.org/competition.
Provided information and photos
