San Diego Opera has announced the launch of the inaugural Forbes Prize, a new competition for emerging opera singers that will recognize two exceptional artists with cash prizes.

The competition will also give the oppoturnity to young singers to perform a mainstage role in a future San Diego Opera season. The prize is intended to be awarded annually to early-career opera singers aged 18 and older.

The Forbes Prize was established in memory of James Forbes in gratitude for his years of dedicated service to San Diego Opera. Forbes was a longtime patron, staff member and member of the San Diego Opera Board of Directors and remained actively involved with the company until shortly before his passing in December 2020.

According to San Diego Opera, artists who are United States citizens can submit online audition videos by Oct. 31, 2026 and each applicant will have to submit two contrasting arias in separate languages. San Diego Opera will evaluate video submissions in November and will notify finalists who will be invited to San Diego by Nov. 30, 2026.

The live final round will take place on Jan. 9, 2027 with a jury panel of three judges.

Two winners will be selected with the first-place winner receiving a cash prize of $5,000, and the second-place winner receiving a prize of $3,000.

In a statement, San Diego Opera’s Joann Clark General Director and CEO David Bennett said, “One of the most important responsibilities of an opera company is to nurture the future of the art form. James Forbes cared deeply about San Diego Opera and its future and the Forbes Prize honors that legacy by identifying exceptional emerging talent and providing meaningful support as artists build their careers. The opportunity to perform a mainstage role makes this competition especially unique. It allows us to both recognize gifted singers, and invest directly in their future by giving them professional experience on the San Diego Opera stage.”