Trnava Shone with Talent Once Again: The 26th Edition of the International Singing Competition Named after Schneider-Trnavský Announces Its Winners

On Saturday afternoon, May 24, 2025, the Mirror Hall of the Ján Palárik Theatre in Trnava hosted the awards ceremony and Winners' Concert of the 26th annual Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský International Singing Competition. This prestigious international event is among the most important vocal competitions in Central Europe and has earned recognition from both professionals and the general public for its focus on classical vocal music.

The competition is named after the prominent Slovak composer, conductor, teacher, and organist Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský (1881–1958), a native of Trnava who significantly contributed to the development of Slovak vocal music. He is the author of an extensive body of songs, sacred music, and hymnals, which still form the core repertoire for many singers. His most famous work is the hymnal Let Us Celebrate Together, but his solo songs—requiring sensitivity to the Slovak language, lyricism, and stylistic interpretation—are equally unforgettable.

This year’s competition featured nearly 100 young singers from over 20 countries, competing in two age categories. Their performances were evaluated by a distinguished international jury.

“Trnava has come alive with music once again, welcoming many singers from various countries. One of the great benefits of this competition is that a prerequisite for participation is studying a piece by Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský. This helps spread the work of this important Slovak composer across all continents,” said the chair of the jury, Professor Eva Blahová, a vocal teacher at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica.

Other members of the international jury included:

• Mihailo Arsenski (Germany / North Macedonia) – Tenor and educator

• Wiktor Bockman (Switzerland) – Artistic Director of the Opernspiele Munot opera festival

• Peter Dvorský (Slovakia) – Emeritus soloist of the Vienna State Opera

• Ariane Hollaender-Calix (Austria) – Director of an arts agency

• Atilla Kiss (Hungary) – Professor and General Director of the Budapest Operetta Theatre

• Jozef Kundlák (Slovakia) – Soloist of the Slovak National Theatre Opera

• Tadeusz Pszonka (Poland) – Director of vocal festivals and competitions

• Martina Zadro (Croatia) – Soloist of the Slovenian National Theatre Opera and vocal professor

MAIN PRIZES:

• Grand Prize: Leily Alina SCHÖFER (Germany)

• Second Grand Prize: Not awarded

• Third Grand Prize: Marija ŽALAC (Croatia)

• 1st Prize: Not awarded

• 2nd Prize: Benedykt SZOSTOK (Poland)

• 3rd Prize: Piotr BUJNOWSKI (Poland), Vilém CUPÁK (Czech Republic), Łukasz MIARKA (Poland)

• Other awards:

  • Zoe HIPPIUS (Russia)

  • Duangamorn FU (Thailand)

  • Paulina MAKAROWSKA (Poland), Ildikó JAVORKOVÁ (Slovakia)

  • Daniel KFELÍŘ (Czech Republic)

Note: Several 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes were not awarded.

SPECIAL PRIZES:

• Mayor of Trnava Award: Marianna ČURKOVÁ

• Special Award from the Director of Budapest Operetta Theatre: Marianna ČURKOVÁ, Ildikó JAVORKOVÁ

• Best Piano Collaboration: Lana BRADIĆ, Grzegorz BIEGAS

• Chairman of Trnava Self-Governing Region Award: Zuzana JEŘÁBKOVÁ

• Dr. Janko Blaho Prize for Promising Tenor: Vilém CUPÁK

• Prof. Eva Blahová Award for Mozart Aria Interpretation: Duangamorn FU

• Prof. Mária Kišonová-Hubová Award for Interpretation of Ružička’s Song: Tereza KOTLÁNOVÁ

• JUDr. Štefan Bugala Award for Interpretation of Schneider-Trnavský's Song: Wiktoria GIEMZA

• Music Centre Award – Allegretto Žilina Festival 2026 Invitation: Daniel KFELÍŘ

• Music Fund Award: Denisa HANUŠOVSKÁ

• Otokar Klein Award: Zoe HIPPIUS, Duangamorn FU

• Peter Dvorský Award – Concert and Masterclass in Jaroměřice 2026: Vilém CUPÁK, Zuzana JEŘÁBKOVÁ

• Sharon Resch Award – Participation in a U.S. Competition in 2026: Daniel KFELÍŘ

• Slovak Philharmonic Award – Recital in the 2025/2026 Season: Zoe HIPPIUS

• National Theatre Košice Award: Wictoria Boroň

• Slovenian National Theatre Ljubljana Award: Zoe HIPPIUS

This year’s competition confirmed the event’s high artistic level and its importance in discovering new vocal talent. The organizers extend their heartfelt thanks to all participating singers, pianists, jury members, teachers, partners, and supporters of vocal art who contributed to the event's successful realization.

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The competition’s main organizer is the Music Centre, a state-funded organization under the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.

We thank our partners: Trnava Self-Governing Region, the City of Trnava, "Experience Trnava" – Municipal Cultural Centre, and the Trnava Region.

Special thanks go to the Ján Palárik Theatre in Trnava and the M. Schneider-Trnavský Elementary School of the Arts in Trnava for providing venues.

We also thank our media partners: Trnava City TV, Rádio Devín, Opera Slovakia, Hudobný život, Trnava Radio, MojaKultura.sk, Art&History Magazine, and other media outlets covering the competition.

Updated: 23. 09. 2025