The 2026 International Voice Competition Boris Martinovich did not name a first place winner, instead it named bass Keith Klein and baritone Valerian Mchedlidze as second place winners.

Klein has sung as a Studio Artist with Florida Grand Opera and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and served as an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado. He recently made his European debut with the International Opera Studio at Hamburg State Opera. He was among recipients of the 2026 Foundation for the Promotion of the Hamburg State Opera prize.

Mchedlidze frequently performs with the Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi. In 2023, he received top prizes in the Metropolitan Melodies competition, and in the International Opera Singing Competition Bellano – Lake Como.

Participants in the final round alongside Klein and Mchedlidze were sopranos Lin, Siao Chun Han, Alessandra Marangon, Natalka Pasicznyk, Chloé Leruth, Fabienne Valentine Exler, and Olesya Tokarenko, mezzo-soprano Jelena Garkavchenko, and tenor Victor Dahhani.

The jury consisted of Boris Martinovich, Diana Kirie, Zhou Zheng, Roberto Cresca, Roxana Nite, Ayana Sambuu Zandraa, Niclas Oettermann, Diana Elizabeth, Gabriella Ravazzi, and Edna Garabedian.

Awards included opportunities with the Spazio Music Festival, Muffled Voices Festival, Vienna Opera & Art Song Festival, Berlin Opera Academy, and others, as well as a total prize pool consisted of $76,000.

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