IVC s'Hertogenbosch celebrates its 2021 winners

Competition Final takes place despite new Corona restrictions

Sunday, 21 November 2021. Despite a new lockdown, heavy restrictions and numerous anti-corona demonstrations, the IVC s´Hertogenbosch managed to hold its long awaited finals live and with audience.

In the ceremony following the performance, the jury, chaired by Dame Sarah Connolly, praised the participants for their exceptionally high standard.  Four duos, consisting of a singer and a pianist, had qualified for the final in the Grote Zaal of the Verkadefabriek in 's-Hertogenbosch: Sophia Burgos, soprano (USA, 1991) & Daniel Gerzenberg, pianist (Germany, 1991); Zhuohan Sun, tenor (China, 1993) & Sara Pavlovic, pianist (Serbia, 1996); Matthias Hoffmann, bass-baritone (Austria, 1991) & Lisa Ochsendorf, pianist (Germany, 1991); and Arvid Fagerfjäll, baritone (Sweden, 1991) & Hikaru Kanki, pianist (Japan, 1993).

It was two duos who succeeded and received the three top prizes: Arvid Fagerfjäll/ Hikaru Kanki, and Sophia Burgos/ Daniel Gerzenberg.

The only international classical vocal competition in the Netherlands, IVC (the International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch) attracts singers and pianists of all nationalities. This year, almost 100 duos applied, with fourteen of them selected to compete for a place in the final. All musicians had to compose their own recital repertoire within the norms of the competition. The only compulsory work for all duos is always the "Prize Song": this year and in 2022 it is "Het Goud van Vermeer“ (Vermeer's Gold) by composer Bart Visman and lyricist Marc Pantus.