Vocal Competition

Every year, ORMTA showcases some of the most talented advanced vocal students from across Ontario in this prestigious competition. Students of ORMTA members first compete locally at the branch level. A local branch winner then qualifies to compete at their regional zone competition. Winners of each zone competition across Ontario then earn the right to advance to this provincial competition. Students are expected to perform a stylistically balanced programme. Each student receives a written critique from a panel of distinguished adjudicators. Special thanks to many organizations and individuals for their ongoing support of this competition. 

If you would like to make a donation to our student scholarship fund, please click here.

2025 Prizes

Level 8 & 9

1st place - $750

2nd place - $500

Level 10 & Associate

1st place - $1,000

2nd place - $750

Other Prizes

Esther Su Memorial Scholarship Award - $250
for the best vocal performance of a Canadian work.

German Lieder Award - $100 (one prize per category)
for the best performance of a Lied by a composer such as Schubert, Brahms, Mozart, Wolf, Strauss.

Rules & Regulations

Download the Vocal Competition Level 8 & 9 Rules and Regulations

Download the Vocal Competition Level 10 & Associate Rules and Regulations

Select the image above to view a chart of the hierarchy of competitions from the
Branch level to the National level.

Application Forms

Online application forms will be available here on May 1st.

Adjudicators’ Signature Form

2025 Vocal Competition Adjudicators

  • Bio coming soon.

  • Deborah Linton completed her Bachelor of Music in voice performance at the University of Toronto where she studied with Irene Jessner and Elizabeth Benson-Guy. She received her Master of Fine Arts in voice performance from State University of New York. While there, she received the voice fellowship for two years, taught undergraduate voice courses and studied with Muriel Hebert Wolf. Further study included post graduate work with John Malloy and Thomas Paul at the Eastman School of Music.

    Deborah’s opera performances have included such diverse roles as Mrs. Ford (Merry Wives of Windsor), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Metella (La Vie Parisienne), Baba the Turk (The Rake’s Progress), and Katisha (The Mikado). She has been a featured soloist in numerous oratorios, among them Messiah (Handel), Magnificat (Bach and Vivaldi) and Missa Brevis (Mozart).

    Deborah has been an avid recitalist with programs devoted to a wide range of vocal repertoire. One of her most successful recitals was entitled “The Wicked, Wicked Women of Song”. Another favourite was a vaudeville program complete with costume, fans and feathers.

    Recently, Deborah retired from Brock University where she taught voice, pedagogy, master classes and language diction for nearly thirty years. In addition she maintained a very active private studio. Several of her students went on to prominent international careers such as her student Brett Polegato, who recently was honoured with the prestigious  “Ruby” award for his outstanding work in opera.

    Deborah has been a member of ORMTA, receiving the “Special Teacher Award “ from them in 2005 for the Niagara Falls branch. She has also belonged to NATS and the Federation of Music Festivals. She has adjudicated multiple music festivals, university exams and recitals. In addition she has given presentations of vocal technique and physiology and the Alexander Technique to choirs, speech pathologists and teachers.

    Today Deborah is the alto soloist at First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo. She resides with her patient husband Lloyd and very large Goldendoodle Sam in Niagara Falls.