YOUNG singers will have the opportunity to compete this year for the opportunity to sing with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Launched on February 23, this major new singing competition is being run by the orchestra in partnership with The Grange Festival, based at The Grange, Northington, north west of Alresford.

The Grange International Singing Competition, formerly The Hampshire National Singing Competition, will offer emerging talent under the age of 33 the chance to win not only significant cash prizes and a role in a future production by The Grange Festival, but the opportunity to give public performances culminating in the chance to sing with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, The Grange Festival’s orchestra-in-residence.

As the first country house opera company to present such a competition, the ambitious undertaking underlines The Grange Festival’s desire to extend its work outside the summer opera season, offering a broader and more dynamic range of events than ever before, as well as its artistic vision to nurture the careers of young singers.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has a long history of championing new talent and as part of its rising talent programme delivers a range of activities that provide professional training and artistic networking, creating an important pathway for emerging talent in classical music. This new partnership with The Grange International Singing Competition will continue this work and support a new generation of talented singers.

Dougie Scarfe, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s chief executive, said: “Nurturing emerging artists is at the heart of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s remit, so we’re delighted to extend our partnership with The Grange Festival and work with these young artists as orchestra in residence for the final round of the competition.”

The judging panel will be made up of distinguished adjudicators, including Dame Felicity Palmer, patron of The Grange International Singing Competition, and The Grange Festival’s artistic director, Michael Chance, who will also act as chairman.

Joining them will be Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra head of concerts and programming Heather Duncan, director John Copley, internationally acclaimed accompanist and coach Roger Vignoles, managing director of Groves Artists Jonathan Groves, and director of artistic administration at The Grange Festival, Scott Cooper.

Mr Chance, artistic director of The Grange Festival, said: “Our new competition aims to provide a supportive showcase for burgeoning talent and offers a high-profile opportunity for young singers, keen to pursue careers in both opera and song, in a supportive and celebratory environment.

“We are delighted that Dame Felicity Palmer, such a magnificent and versatile artist in her own right, has agreed to be our patron and join a distinguished jury which will share such a wonderful range of experience with our entrants. We are thrilled, too, that our resident orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, is working with us to deliver an exciting final round in the jewel of a theatre at The Grange.”

Dame Felicity said: “A good voice (even a beautiful one) is obviously desirable for a singer. More important, I believe, is what a singer does with the voice given them: how it is used technically and artistically and whether or not he or she seeks to communicate with it. Singing has to be about communication - through voice, text, music, body, heart and soul.”

Entrants will have the opportunity to draw on the experience of members of the judging panel through seminars and masterclasses, a significant part of the competition experience.

A number of generous cash prizes will be awarded to successful participants, including £7,500 for the overall winner, £5,000 for the second prize and £2,500 for the third, in addition to roles in future productions with The Grange Festival. All finalists will win £1,000 and there will also be a song prize and audience prize with awards of £2,500 and £2,000 respectively.

All entrants to the competition will be mentored during the rounds by jury members and will take part in masterclasses with them, placing the working process of preparing and making music at the heart of the competition.

Entries to the competition are now open and the closing date is April 10. Public rounds will take place on September 10 and September 24 at The Grange Festival.

To apply, visit thegrangefestival.co.uk.