Schmidt Vocal Arts has announced the winners of its 2025–26 Florida and Southern California Regional Competitions, held on October 25, 2025, at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Chapman University in Orange, California.

In Florida, first place went to Laura Suarez of Miami, second place to Ryhanna Tarte of Boynton Beach, and third place to Kennedy Davenport of Lakeland.

In Southern California, Tiffany Carr of Rowland Heights won first place, Isabel Calvo of Orange placed second, and Lev Sakae Taira of La Cañada took third.

The top three each advance to the National Competition in 2025, while also winning $2,500, $2,000, and $1,500 for their first, second, and third places, respectively.

In sum, 55 high school singers—27 from Florida and 28 from Southern California and Arizona—competed for cash prizes and advancement to the Schmidt Vocal Arts National Competition in May 2026. Adjudicators selected finalists who each received $250, while additional awards of $100 recognized singers for Encouragement, Most Promising Sophomore, and Broadway Bound categories.

Florida finalists included Tavarus Burgess Jr., Kennedy Davenport, Lila Fuchs, Kaiden Gosnell, Jeremy Jones, Laura Suarez, Ryhanna Tarte, Ailey Tetrault, and Ella Zarkos. Encouragement Awards went to Mikayla Williams, Sabrina Zambrano, and Ella Zarkos. Bella Rosario was named Most Promising Sophomore, and Emma Bambrey received the Broadway Bound Award.

The Florida judging panel featured mezzo-soprano Kathryn Hartgrove, mezzo-soprano Dr. Rebecca Folsom, and soprano Dr. Bronwen Forbay.

Southern California finalists included Hope Bradley, Isabel Calvo, Tiffany Carr, Henry Chung, Lucy Glow, Reese Guenther-Clark, Erica Lee, Leah Navarro, and Lev Sakae Taira. Encouragement Awards were presented to Cadence Bleakley, Hope Bradley, Sophia Li, and Olivia Xia, with Lucy Glow named Most Promising Sophomore.

Judges for the Southern California event were baritone Dr. Marc Callahan, soprano Dr. Carol Ann Allred, and soprano Irini Kyriakidou-Hymel.

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