Mezzo-soprano Valerie Eickhoff has won the 2022 Südwestrundfunk Junge Opernstars Competition.

She took home the audience prize, the Emmerich Smola Prize, as well as the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Orchestra Prize, which is chosen by members of the orchestra.

As the winner, Eickhoff will now have the opportunity to appear in a concert, studio production, and radio, television, and online programs with the organization. She will also be promoted by SWR2 as a new talent for three years and perform in concert next season with the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie.

“I’m honored to be named this year’s winner, especially when singing amongst so many talented artists,” said Eickhoff in an official statement. “I look forward to collaborating with two of Germany’s most prestigious artistic organizations, SWR2 and Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, in the coming years.”

Eickhoff is set to appear with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in 2021-22 for six role debuts in such operas as “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Hänsel und Gretel,” “Cavalleria Rusticana,” “Ronja Ränbertochter, “Orphée aux Enfers,” and “Meister Pedros Puppenspiel. She also recently debuted at the Tiroler Festspiele.