The 2026 George Shirley Competition Placement and Special Prize Award Ceremony begins at 6:45 pm. All participants are considered for special prizes, regardless of their final place in the competition. The George Shirley Vocal and Composer Competition focuses entirely on African American Vocal Repertoire and is open to competitors of all ethnicities. The competition offers singers and composers the opportunity to work with and receive feedback from world-renowned judges, including George Shirley. We award over $48,000 in scholarships across 5 divisions.