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There is no entry or participation fee for the competition. Competitors pay their own (and their accompanist’s) travelling expenses to and from Helsinki. However, the Competition Committee may, at its discretion, award travel bursaries to competitors travelling from outside Europe.

We try to support singers in many ways, to allow them to concentrate on their performance and to ensure that the competition as a whole is a rewarding experience. We offer lunch each day, as well as free accommodation either with a host family or at a hotel.

The Competition has lots more to offer singers: Master Classes, a Singers’ Studio (an interview and question time with a member of the Jury), joint events and outings. Participation in these is, however, voluntary.

The Mirjam Helin Competition awards prizes as follows: the first prize is €50,000, the second €40,000, the third €30,000 and all other finalists (IV–VI) each €10,000. A prize of €5,000 will also be awarded for the best performance of a Finnish song by a singer whose native language is neither Finnish nor Swedish, and a prize of €5,000 will be awarded for the best performance of a Lied. All semifinalists, apart from the prizewinners, will receive an award of €1,500. A total of €190,000 is thus awarded in prizes.

Whether or not a prize is taxed depends on the taxation practice in your country of residence.

For the pre-selection procedure, your application must include a quality audiovisual recording of you performing three songs: one aria and two solo songs in different styles and languages, with piano accompaniment.

We recommend you upload three separate recordings, one for each piece. Each piece must be a single take, and the sound and image must not be recorded separately. You must be recognisable from the recording(s).

The songs you sing on your pre-screening recording may be included in your competition repertoire. For the pre-screening recording, the songs do not need to be performed from memory.

We recommend uploading MP4. However, the following video formats are also accepted: MPEG, MPG, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V, VOB.

Please name your video files as follows: Composer_Song, i.e., for example, Bach_ErbarmeDich.mov.

The Mirjam Helin Competition seeks to promote Finnish vocal music. Finland has two official languages (Finnish and Swedish), and the words of many songs were originally in Swedish. The work by a Finnish composer need not be sung in Finnish or Swedish; it may also be sung in an available translation – in English or German, for example. A prize of €5,000 will also be awarded for the best performance of a Finnish song by a singer whose native language is neither Finnish nor Swedish.

Here you can find a list of recommendations for recent Finnish solo songs (PDF, 184 KB).

Here you can find a list of recommendations for recent Finnish solo songs (PDF, 184 KB).

“Suomalaisia yksinlauluja 1-2” (Finnish Solo Songs) that includes solo songs by Sibelius, Kilpinen, Kuula, Merikanto, Madetoja, Sallinen, Rautavaara and other Finnish classics is available for online purchase from www.fennicagehrman.fi and in Helsinki also from Ostinato www.ostinato.fi and F-musiikki www.f-musiikki.fi. The collection is available in two volumes for high, middle or low voice. The words are in Finnish, Swedish, English and German.
The publications of the Academy of Finnish Artsong, “A Catalogue of Finnish Artsong” and “Singing in Finnish – a Manual for Singers and Vocal Coaches”, are also available at Ostinato.

Fennica Gehrman

Digitally downloadable (PDF) Finnish songs, most for voice and piano 

Music Finland 

Finnish songs (vocal /choral), some downloadable from the website (PDF), some with links to other sites 

Competitors will be offered free accommodation with private families or at a hotel in the Helsinki region. The accommodation will be available from two days before the beginning of the competition (1 June 2024). Should you arrive before 1 June, please contact the competition officials (info@mirjamhelin.fi).

The Helsinki families selected as hosts providing accommodation for competitors in international music competitions are all kind, hospitable ones interested in music and young people and have an international orientation. They provide a room of your own and breakfast, and in most cases somewhere for you to practise. They also give help and support with many practical things. This free family accommodation is at the same time a unique opportunity to see how people live in a Nordic country.

Practice facilities are provided free of charge in central Helsinki area. Practising is also possible in family accommodation, as agreed with the host family.

The Jury selects competitors who did not get beyond the Preliminary Round for the Master Classes held in conjunction with the competition. In other words, taking part in the competition does not automatically mean you can attend the Master Classes as a student. The Master classes are taught by members of the Jury. The teacher often proposes the song to be rehearsed. The Master Classes are free for the student and open to the public.

The Jury must allow for the competitor’s performance throughout the competition in making its decisions. After each round, the members of the Jury each name the singers they consider most deserve to go through to the next round. Each member votes independently, and there is no discussion. After the Finals, the members of the Jury vote on each prize separately. Each singer also receives personal feedback from the Jury after their last round.

The deadline of applications is 4 January 2024 at 11.59 pm (UTC -11). If you are selected for the competition, you may make changes to your repertoire until 14 February 2024.