Schmidt Vocal Arts (SVA) has announced the winners of its 2025-26 Indiana Regional Competition, held at Butler University on April 11, 2026.

Emmanuel Tsao of LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York, NY took First Place. Lily Wasoski of Huntington High School in Huntington, NY claimed Second Place, and Raymond Muenzer of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy in Loveland, OH earned Third Place.

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

Encouragement Awards were presented to Kelly Lonneman (School for the Creative and Performing Arts Cincinnati, Harrison, OH) and Parker Roland (Larry A. Ryle High School, Union, KY). The Most Promising Sophomore Award went to Ian Jones of Carmel High School in Carmel, IN.

The jury featured tenor William Burden, Voice Faculty at The Juilliard School and Mannes School of Music; mezzo-soprano Dr. Kathryn Leemhuis, Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance; and Dr. Dana Zenobi, Associate Professor of Voice at Butler University.

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