Vocal Competition

Applications and CDs are being accepted for the annual Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition. All applicants must complete the online form at annapolisopera.org under auditions and vocal competition, and submit a CD. The deadline is Friday. Applicants should label the CD with name, date of birth, contact information and titles of the arias, and mail to Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, c/o Carmen Balthrop, 801 Chase St., Annapolis 21401. Go to the Web site for detailed information about the competition.

Eight singers, selected from a pool of more than 70 contestants, competed in the annual Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts on Sunday. Several past award winners have gone on to perform professionally.

Opera competition Applications and CDs are being accepted for the annual Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition. All applicants must complete the online form at annapolisopera.org under auditions and vocal competition, and submit a CD. The deadline is Friday. Applicants should label the CD with name, date of birth, contact information and titles of the arias, and mail to Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, c/o Carmen Balthrop, 801 Chase St., Annapolis 21401.

Sultry voices, flowing gowns and several white gardenias graced Center Stage yesterday during the 14th annual Billie Holiday Vocal Competition. "What's that show? American Idol? Well, these are some of Baltimore's idols," said Mayor Martin O'Malley, who announced the three winners. Under dim red lights, 13 jazz singers performed Billie Holiday covers for an audience of about 400 from noon to 4 p.m. Doris Dow of Baltimore, a vocalist for the Top 40 band TNT who sings with local church groups, was the first-place winner.

Metropolitan Opera baritone Cornell MacNeil will receive the Voce d'Oro Lifetime Achievement Medallion from the Baltimore Opera in June, after he serves on the judges' panel for the opera's 33rd vocal competition.MacNeil is known as a Verdi baritone, with a wide range and the striking top notes necessary for dramatic roles such as Rigoletto and Macbeth He is also known for his Baron Scarpia, the villain in Puccini's "Tosca." He has sung at the Met since 1959.Other judges for the competition are conductor Christian Badea and soprano Licia Albanese, a previous Voce d'Oro medalist.