Making dreams come true for 20 years: Singers to compete in 20th annual Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition

Life-changing event annually awards more than $700,000 in prizes and scholarships to UK 

[LEXINGTON, Kentucky] – Talented vocalists from across the United States and beyond will compete before a live audience Sunday, March 2, in the 20th annual Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition at the UK Singletary Center for the Arts. This life-changing event annually awards more than $700,000 in prizes and provides scholarships for the renowned UK Opera Theatre program. The community is invited to enjoy an afternoon of music with complimentary admission. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the competition begins at 2 p.m.

This year’s competition is also part of the City of Lexington’s celebration of its 250th anniversary. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton will be in attendance on Sunday to issue a proclamation in honor of the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Program’s 20th anniversary.

This prestigious event has grown to become one of the largest vocal scholarship competitions in the world. Founded in 2006 by the late Dr. Pearse Lyons, an enthusiastic advocate for the arts, the competition has awarded over $12 million in prizes and enabled more than 200 students to pursue their musical ambitions and receive an education in the arts.

Prestigious judges from the world of opera will select multiple winners in several categories, including undergraduate, graduate, and transfer students. In addition to cash prizes, some winners will receive scholarships for the UK Opera Theatre program, including full-tuition awards.

This year, one of the competition’s most celebrated winners, acclaimed opera singer Reginald (Reggie) Smith Jr., will serve as one of the judges.

Smith took one of the top prizes in the competition in 2007, when he traveled nine hours from Atlanta to Lexington on a Greyhound bus and arrived just in time to take the stage.

Dr. Everett McCorvey, UK Opera Theatre director, said Smith was a stellar student who took advantage of every opportunity to learn and develop his skills.

“He was a leader among the students during his undergraduate years and he was well respected by his peers and in the community,” McCorvey said.

Since his time at UK, Smith has enjoyed a flourishing singing career, performing on prestigious stages worldwide. Among his many accomplishments, he participated in the young artist program at Houston Grand Opera, won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2015 and sang on the Grammy Award-winning recording of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-20 production of “Porgy and Bess.”

Smith credits the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition, which he says provided him with the financial freedom to pursue his education without debt, allowing him to focus on both vocal performance and music education.

“The most important door that the competition opened for me was the ability to go to school and get an education and not have to worry about tuition costs,” Smith said, adding that traveling with Dr. Lyons to perform around the world was also an important educational experience.

“Being able to see the world through the numerous trips with Dr. Lyons and through all the generosity of Alltech really helped to change my perspective on the world,” he said.  “It helped make me a better global citizen.”

In addition to serving as a judge, Smith also sponsors the Reginald Smith Jr. Prize, which supports students whose lives will be as dramatically changed by the program as his was.

See tomorrow’s opera stars in the making

By removing financial barriers to pursuing a musical education, the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition has helped talented vocalists realize their dreams and launch successful careers. The competition has also played a pivotal role in the rise of UK’s opera program, which is now widely regarded as one of the best in the nation.

“It is because of our partnership with Alltech that we are able to attract and invite the top students in the country and from across the world to join us in the heart of Central Kentucky,” Dr. McCorvey said. “The generosity of Dr. Mark Lyons, Deirdre Lyons and all those who support the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition enables us to create competitive scholarship offers for students, allowing us to compete with major conservatories and encouraging these talented students to continue their education in vocal music here with us.”

In addition to UK Opera Theatre productions, Alltech Vocal Scholars enrich the local community throughout the year with performances at the annual Alltech Celebration of Song, a free holiday concert at Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, and the popular summer concert series “It’s a Grand Night for Singing.”

Join us this Sunday at the UK Singletary Center for an unforgettable celebration of music, opportunity and two decades of commitment to advancing the arts.

Learn more about the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition and watch last year’s competition at alltech.com/vocal. Learn more about the UK Opera Theatre program at finearts.uky.edu/opera.