Jintian Ma took first place at the Schmidt Vocal Arts Southern California Regional Competition, held Oct. 24 at Chapman University in Orange, California.

Lucy Glow placed second and Keanu Ho third. Ma, of Irvine, California, received $2,500, Glow, of Phoenix, Arizona, received $2,000, and Ho, also of Irvine, received $1,500. All three advance to the organization’s National Competition at Sarasota Opera in June 2027 and are eligible to apply for college scholarships from Schmidt Vocal Arts, which awards more than $500,000 annually in scholarships.

Other finalists, who each received a $500 award for advancing, were Katherine Backues of Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego; Joseph Calvo of Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Orange; Reese Guenther-Clark of Orange County School of the Arts in Long Beach; Juliette Santos of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts in Valencia; and Leila Woodward of Orange County School of the Arts in Newport Beach. Encouragement Awards went to Amelia Checketts of Goleta, Hannah Kaye of Coto de Caza, Joel Lee of Fullerton, and Santos. Calvo received the Broadway Bound Award, and Ma received the Most Promising Sophomore Award. Three singers took part in a master class with the judges ahead of the final round.

The jury was made up of mezzo-soprano Soon Cho, professor of music-voice at Pacific Lutheran University; soprano Linda McAlister, executive director of Schmidt Vocal Arts; and countertenor William Sauerland, associate professor of music education at Chapman University.