Croatian tenor Tomislav Jukić has been named the winner of the 9th Josep Palet International Singing Competition, following the grand final held March 22 at the Auditori Joan Cererols in Martorell.

Jukić receives a prize of €5,000, along with concert engagements within the M’Clàssics Martorell series, participation in tours organized by the Xarxa de Músiques of the Juventuts Musicals de Catalunya and the Juventuts Musicals de España, and the premiere of a new work written specifically for the competition by guest composer Montserrat Lladó. He also took home the Audience Prize and the Prize for Best Performer of Italian Bel Canto.

Welsh tenor Dafydd Jones claimed second prize, receiving €2,000, a concert within the M’Clàssics Martorell series, the Friends of the Opera of Sabadell Prize, and the Joan Cererols Prize for Best Performer of Early Music.

Polish soprano Justyna Khil was awarded third prize and the special prize from the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation.

Additional special prizes went to Inés López and Laura Brasó. Notably, this marks the first time in the competition’s history that two tenors have claimed the top two prizes.

The jury included Christina Scheppelmann, General and Artistic Director of Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie; Gabriele Donà, Operndirektor of Oper Köln; Julien Benhamou, casting consultant for the Metropolitan Opera and the Aix-en-Provence Festival; and Cesidio Niño, Artistic Director of ABAO Bilbao Opera, among others.