In 2027, the Mirjam Helin Competition, organised by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, will take place in Turku for the first time in its history.
Mirjam Helin Singing Competition 5–17 June 2027
The Mirjam Helin Competition counts among the most prestigious contests of its kind in the world. Many former prize winners have later risen to the top of the world of singing, including Olaf Bär, Elīna Garanča, René Pape, Kateryna Kasper, Nadine Sierra, Andrea Rost and Julia Lezhneva.
Until now, the Mirjam Helin Competition has always taken place in Helsinki. From 5 to 17 June 2027, the event will take place in Turku, expanding into city-wide festival. The preliminary round will take place at Sigyn Hall, while the semi-finals and finals will be held at the newly built Music Hall Fuuga. The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in the final, led by its chief conductor John Storgårds.
The main partner of the competition is the City of Turku, and side events will be organised in collaboration with numerous other partners. The programme includes singing events, open masterclasses, opera karaoke, and much more.
The main prize in the competition is €60,000 — the largest of any major classical singing competition worldwide. The second prize is €40,000, and the third prize €30,000. The other finalists will each receive €10,000. A jury of leading figures from the international world of singing will also award special prizes. The singers will also be offered opportunities to perform in lied recitals, appear as soloists with orchestras, and receive career mentoring.
The funding for the Mirjam Helin Competition comes from the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s Mirjam and Hans Helin donor fund. Professor Mirjam Helin (1911–2006) was a singer and beloved singing teacher who made a major donation to the Finnish Cultural Foundation, with the ambition to establish a singing competition that would become the most prestigious in the world. The first Mirjam Helin Competition was organised in 1984.
