The 20th Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition has announced its 2023 winners.

Coming in first in the male vocal category is Chinese baritone Chao Liu. He was awarded 24K PLN (nearly $6,000 in USD). Second prize in the same category was given to Chinese tenor Liang Wei.

In the female category mezzo-soprano Veronika Rabek and Hyejin Lee tied in second place. Both singers received 11K PLN. No first-place award was given. Hyejin Lee also received a cash prize for the best coloratura soprano. Third prize went to soprano Celine Mun.

Honorable mentions awards went to mezzo-soprano Iryna Haich and baritone Adrian Janus. For the first time in the competition’s history, the Helena Lazarska Prize was given for the best performance of a work by Mozart. It was awarded to Justyna Khil for “In quali eccessi/Mi tradi quell’alma ingrata” from “Don Giovanni.” 

The singers were judged by an international jury chaired by Małgorzata Walewska. Other jurors included Marcin Habela, Beata Klatka, Dominik Licht, Rebekah Rota, Keith Bernard Stonum, and Wojciech Maciejowski.

Liu who is currently studying at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, showed his gratitude by saying, “Congratulations to all my colleagues. It was a beautiful competition. I thank all the organizers. I am very happy.”