The Pasadena Vocal Competition (formerly Mentoris) is a 501-(c) 3 nonprofit organization, whose purpose is to financially support classical singers and promote community interest in opera. 2025 will mark the 5th year of the competition which has given away over $20,000 annually with funds awarded by the Pasadena Area Opera Trust.
The Trust was formed by the generous members of the Pasadena Opera Guild from 1967 to 2018. Numerous patrons, including soprano Angel Blue, Mezzo-soprano Milena Kitic and Baritone Rod Gilfry have also generously given awards in their names.
We invite you to make a donation in any amount to help support numerous talented young classical singers who are deserving of funds to further their studies and careers in opera. We thank you for your consideration and support!
New prize for 2025!
The Courtney B. Vance award for the best aria by a composer from the African Diaspora.
COURTNEY B. VANCE
Courtney B. Vance is an award-winning actor who is a powerful presence from the stage to the screen. His debut as Spc. Abraham ‘Doc’ Johnson in Hamburger Hill launched a prolific cinematic career that includes historically noteworthy films such as The Hunt for Red October, The Preacher’s Wife, and The Adventures of Huck Finn.
From Courtney’s stunning portrayal of Johnnie Cochran in FX’s The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, to the beloved and pivotal character “Uncle George” in HBO’s critically acclaimed drama horror series Lovecraft Country, to his star turn in NatGeo’s Genius: Aretha as Rev. C.L. Franklin, he has earned two EMMYs, a TONY, a Critics Choice Award, a Black Reel TV Award, and multiple NAACP Image Awards, as well as SAG, Golden Globe, and Hollywood Critics Association nominations.
Courtney’s feature film, Heist 88, in which he stars and is produced by Bassett Vance Productions, aired on Showtime Networks, was one of 2023’s most watched original films on the network, and Paramount+. The film earned three NAACP Image Award nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie for Courtney, Outstanding Television Movie Drama, and won the award for Outstanding Writing for a Television Movie Drama.
Courtney is the recipient of the Bounce Trumpet Awards Excellence in Entertainment Honor, the ABFF Honors Award for Excellence in the Arts, and he earned a Grammy nomination for his narration of Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s book, ACCESSORY TO WAR.
He recently starred on 61st Street, a criminal justice drama, which began airing its second season on the CW Network in Summer 2024 for which he earned an AAFCA TV Honors Award. He currently co-stars alongside Niecy Nash-Betts in Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie, a horror drama series on Hulu. His upcoming film, the sci-fi comedy feature Lilo & Stitch in which he plays Cobra Bubbles, is due in theaters May 2025.
Past Winners
VIDEO GALLERY
The PVC Experience
PVC Winners
Congratulations to all our winners
Our winners have since gone on to grace the stages of the Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera and The Metropolitan Opera, in addition to numerous international appearances.
PVC Mission
Our Mission is simple
Going beyond our core responsibility of financially supporting the future stars of opera, our mission is to infuse the City of Pasadena with the splendor of this art form. Through strategic investments in emerging operatic talent through our annual competition, we seek to cultivate a profound sense of ownership among our residents, contributing to the cultural richness of our city.
