Schmidt Vocal Arts has announced the results of its 2025-26 Utah and New Jersey Regional Competitions, held Feb. 28 and March 1 at the University of Utah and Montclair State University, respectively.

In Utah, Anneli Abbott of Highland took first place, followed by Daisy Maravilla of Cottonwood Heights in second and Austyn Tarrant of Magna in third. The jury comprised soprano Deanna Breiwick, mezzo-soprano Jamie Van Eyck, and soprano Julie Wright-Costa.

In New Jersey, Alexander Pyun of New York placed first, with Eva Stein of New York second and Cailey Jones of Baltimore third following a decision by a jury featuring soprano Marilyn Mims, soprano Beth Roberts, and baritone Reginald Smith, Jr.

The six top prizewinners received awards of $2,500, $2,000, and $1,500 respectively and advance to the National Competition in May 2026 at Sarasota Opera. They are also now eligible to apply for college scholarships through Schmidt Vocal Arts, which awards more than $500,000 annually to support higher education.

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