Previous competitions and winners

Winners 1984–2024

2024

I Jingjing Xu, China

II Kathrin Lorenzen, Germany

2019

Naiset: Johanna Wallroth, Sweden

Miehet: Stefan Astakhov, Germany

2014

Naiset: Kateryna Kasper, Ukraine

Miehet: Beomjin Kim, South Korea

2009

Naiset: Julia Lezhneva, Russia

Miehet: Kihwan Sim, South Korea

2004

Naiset: Eglise Gutiérrez, Cuba

Miehet: Woo-Kyung Kim, South Korea

1999

Naiset: Elīna Garanča, Latvia

Miehet: Marcin Bronikowski, Poland

1994

Naiset: Kirsi Tiihonen, Finland

Miehet: Chen-ye Yuan, China

1989

Naiset: Andrea Rost, Hungary

Miehet: René Pape, GDR

1984

Naiset: Ning Liang, China

Miehet: Vladimir Chernov, Russia

Competition laureates and jurys 1984–2024

Nainen hurraa iloisena frakissa kukkakimppu sylissään

2024

Laureates and Jury

First prize Jingjing Xu China

Second prize Kathrin Lorenzen Germany

Third prize Junho Hwang South Korea

Fourth prize Justyna Khil Poland

Fifth prize Aksel Daveyan Armenia

Sixth prize Josipa Bilić Croatia

Prize for the best performance of a Finnish song by a singer whose native language is neither Finnish nor Swedish:
Renáta Gebe-Fügi Hungary

Prize for the best performance of a Lied:
Gabriel Rollinson Germany

Favourite of the press jury:
Hedvig Haugerud Norway

Favourite of the student jury:
Jingjing Xu China

Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle audience favourite award:
Kathrin Lorenzen Germany

Jury

The 2024 jury members were Soile Isokoski (chair), Luca Pisaroni, Keval Shah, Bo Skovhus, Randi Stene, and Dawn Upshaw.

Laureates and Jury

First prize Jingjing Xu China

Second prize Kathrin Lorenzen Germany

Third prize Junho Hwang South Korea

Fourth prize Justyna Khil Poland

Fifth prize Aksel Daveyan Armenia

Sixth prize Josipa Bilić Croatia

Prize for the best performance of a Finnish song by a singer whose native language is neither Finnish nor Swedish:
Renáta Gebe-Fügi Hungary

Prize for the best performance of a Lied:
Gabriel Rollinson Germany

Favourite of the press jury:
Hedvig Haugerud Norway

Favourite of the student jury:
Jingjing Xu China

Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle audience favourite award:
Kathrin Lorenzen Germany

Jury

The 2024 jury members were Soile Isokoski (chair), Luca Pisaroni, Keval Shah, Bo Skovhus, Randi Stene, and Dawn Upshaw.

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Johanna Wallroth Sweden

II prize Olga Cheremnykh Russia

III prize Teaa An South Korea

IV prize Palesa Malieloa South Africa

Men

I prize Stefan Astakhov Germany

II prize Rodrigo Sosa Dal Pozzo Italian, Venezuelan

III prize Bryan Murray United States

IV prize Jussi Juola Finland

Special Prize for the best performance by a non-Finnish singer of a Finnish song:
Rodrigo Sosa Dal Pozzo

Jury

Jorma Silvasti (Chairman), Olaf Bär, Ben Heppner, Vesselina Kasarova, François Le Roux, Waltraud Meier, Deborah Polaski and Kiri Te Kanawa.

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Johanna Wallroth Sweden

II prize Olga Cheremnykh Russia

III prize Teaa An South Korea

IV prize Palesa Malieloa South Africa

Men

I prize Stefan Astakhov Germany

II prize Rodrigo Sosa Dal Pozzo Italian, Venezuelan

III prize Bryan Murray United States

IV prize Jussi Juola Finland

Special Prize for the best performance by a non-Finnish singer of a Finnish song:
Rodrigo Sosa Dal Pozzo

Jury

Jorma Silvasti (Chairman), Olaf Bär, Ben Heppner, Vesselina Kasarova, François Le Roux, Waltraud Meier, Deborah Polaski and Kiri Te Kanawa.

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Kateryna Kasper Ukraine

II prize Ekaterina Morozova Russia

III prize Sunyoung Seo South Korea

IV prize Elena Guseva Russia

Men

I prize Beomjin Kim South Korea

II prize Matija Meić Croatia

III prize Leon Kosavic Croatia

IV prize Dmytro Kalmuchyn Ukraine

Special Prize for the best performance by a non-Finnish singer of a Finnish song:
Matija Meić Croatia

Jury

Jorma Silvasti (Chairman), Franz Grundheber, Maria Guleghina, Ben Heppner, Robert Holl, Andrea Rost, Nathalie Stutzmann and Deborah Voigt.

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Kateryna Kasper Ukraine

II prize Ekaterina Morozova Russia

III prize Sunyoung Seo South Korea

IV prize Elena Guseva Russia

Men

I prize Beomjin Kim South Korea

II prize Matija Meić Croatia

III prize Leon Kosavic Croatia

IV prize Dmytro Kalmuchyn Ukraine

Special Prize for the best performance by a non-Finnish singer of a Finnish song:
Matija Meić Croatia

Jury

Jorma Silvasti (Chairman), Franz Grundheber, Maria Guleghina, Ben Heppner, Robert Holl, Andrea Rost, Nathalie Stutzmann and Deborah Voigt.

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Julia Lezhneva Russia

II prize Nadine Sierra USA

III prize Keunghea Kang South Korea

IV prize Kishani Jayasinghe Sri Lanka

Men

I prize Kihwan Sim South Korea

II prize Timothy Mix USA

III prize David DQ Lee Canada

IV prize Azamat Zheltyrguzov Kazakhstan

Special Prize for the best performance by a non-Finnish singer of a Finnish song: Katharina Göres Germany

Jury

Jorma Silvasti (Chairman), Tereza Berganza, Soile Isokoski, Thomas Moser, Jewgenij Nesterenko, Anna Tomowa-Sintow.

2009

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Julia Lezhneva Russia

II prize Nadine Sierra USA

III prize Keunghea Kang South Korea

IV prize Kishani Jayasinghe Sri Lanka

Men

I prize Kihwan Sim South Korea

II prize Timothy Mix USA

III prize David DQ Lee Canada

IV prize Azamat Zheltyrguzov Kazakhstan

Special Prize for the best performance by a non-Finnish singer of a Finnish song: Katharina Göres Germany

Jury

Jorma Silvasti (Chairman), Tereza Berganza, Soile Isokoski, Thomas Moser, Jewgenij Nesterenko, Anna Tomowa-Sintow.

Mies ja nainen halaamassa juhlapuvut päällään

2004

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Eglise Gutiérrez Cuba

II prize Jekaterina Gubanova Russia

III prize Karen Wierzba Canada

III prize Olga Sursina Russia

Men

I prize Woo-Kyung Kim Korea

II prize Burak Bilgili Turkey

III prize Timothy Mix United States

IV prize Dmitri Voropajev Russia

Prize for Young Talent: Arttu Kataja Finland

Special Prize for the best foreign performance of a Finnish song: Dmitri Voropajev Russia

Carlo Cossutta Memorial Prize: Eglise Gutiérrez Cuba

Jury

Tom Krause (Chairman), Luigi Alva, Grace Bumbry, Gundula Janowitz, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Erik Saeden, Anita Välkki, Sarah Walker.

2004

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Eglise Gutiérrez Cuba

II prize Jekaterina Gubanova Russia

III prize Karen Wierzba Canada

III prize Olga Sursina Russia

Men

I prize Woo-Kyung Kim Korea

II prize Burak Bilgili Turkey

III prize Timothy Mix United States

IV prize Dmitri Voropajev Russia

Prize for Young Talent: Arttu Kataja Finland

Special Prize for the best foreign performance of a Finnish song: Dmitri Voropajev Russia

Carlo Cossutta Memorial Prize: Eglise Gutiérrez Cuba

Jury

Tom Krause (Chairman), Luigi Alva, Grace Bumbry, Gundula Janowitz, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Erik Saeden, Anita Välkki, Sarah Walker.

Nainen ja mies juhlapuvuissa ja kukkakimput kädessään

1999

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Elina Garanča Latvia

II prize Olga Pasichnyk Ukraine

III prize Janice Creswell United States

III prize Maria Fontosh Russia

IV prize Byung-Soon Lee Korea

Men

I prize Marcin Bronikowski Poland

II prize Vladimir Baikov Russia

III prize Gabriel Suovanen Sweden

Prize for Young Talent:
Aleksandra Kurzak Poland
Timothy Sharp Germany/USA

Special Prize for the best foreign performance of a Finnish song:
Oana-Claudia Stefanescu Rumania

Special Prize for the performance of a contemporary work:
Gabriel Suovanen Sweden

Jury

Tom Krause (Chairman), Luigi Alva, Elly Ameling, Walter Berry, Grace Bumbry, Ileana Cotrubas, Matti Lehtinen, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Regina Resnik and Joan Sutherland.

1999

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Elina Garanča Latvia

II prize Olga Pasichnyk Ukraine

III prize Janice Creswell United States

III prize Maria Fontosh Russia

IV prize Byung-Soon Lee Korea

Men

I prize Marcin Bronikowski Poland

II prize Vladimir Baikov Russia

III prize Gabriel Suovanen Sweden

Prize for Young Talent:
Aleksandra Kurzak Poland
Timothy Sharp Germany/USA

Special Prize for the best foreign performance of a Finnish song:
Oana-Claudia Stefanescu Rumania

Special Prize for the performance of a contemporary work:
Gabriel Suovanen Sweden

Jury

Tom Krause (Chairman), Luigi Alva, Elly Ameling, Walter Berry, Grace Bumbry, Ileana Cotrubas, Matti Lehtinen, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Regina Resnik and Joan Sutherland.

Mustavalkoinen kuva, jossa nainen ja mies juhlapuvuissa pitävät kukkakimppuja käsissään

1994

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Kirsi Tiihonen Finland

II prize Lilli Paasikivi Finland

III prize Bodil Arnesen Norway

IV prize Urszula Kryger Poland

Men

I prize Chen-ye Yuan China

II prize Karl-Magnus Fredriksson Sweden

III prize Andrei Grigoriev Russia

IV prize Andriy Shkurhan Ukraine

Special Prize for Young Talent: Barbara Baranowska Poland and Hanno Müller-Brachmann Germany

Special Prize for the best foreign performance of a Finnish song: Brett Polegato Canada

Special Prize for the performance of a contemporary work: Anna-Kristiina Kaappola Finland

Jury

Tom Krause (Chairman), Judith Beckmann, Walter Berry, Carlo Cossutta, Ileana Cotrubas, Jorma Hynninen, Gundula Janowitz, Regina Resnik, Erik Saedén and Térésa Zylis-Gara.

1994

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Kirsi Tiihonen Finland

II prize Lilli Paasikivi Finland

III prize Bodil Arnesen Norway

IV prize Urszula Kryger Poland

Men

I prize Chen-ye Yuan China

II prize Karl-Magnus Fredriksson Sweden

III prize Andrei Grigoriev Russia

IV prize Andriy Shkurhan Ukraine

Special Prize for Young Talent: Barbara Baranowska Poland and Hanno Müller-Brachmann Germany

Special Prize for the best foreign performance of a Finnish song: Brett Polegato Canada

Special Prize for the performance of a contemporary work: Anna-Kristiina Kaappola Finland

Jury

Tom Krause (Chairman), Judith Beckmann, Walter Berry, Carlo Cossutta, Ileana Cotrubas, Jorma Hynninen, Gundula Janowitz, Regina Resnik, Erik Saedén and Térésa Zylis-Gara.

1989

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Andrea Rost Hungary

II prize Charlotte Hellekant Sweden

III prize Pilar Torreblanca Spain

IV prize Tatiana Chivarova Bulgaria

Men

I prize René Pape Germany

II prize Salvatore Champagne U.S.A.

III prize Mizuguchi Satoshi Japan

IV prize Johannes Mannov Denmark

Special Prize for Young Talent: Kirsi Tiihonen Finland and Klaus Häger Germany

Special Prize for the best foreign performance of a Finnish song: Gabriele Klein Germany

Jury

Tom Krause (Chairman), Judith Beckmann, Kim Borg, Carlo Cossutta, Matti Lehtinen, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Birgit Nilsson, Térésa Zylis-Gara.

1989

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Andrea Rost Hungary

II prize Charlotte Hellekant Sweden

III prize Pilar Torreblanca Spain

IV prize Tatiana Chivarova Bulgaria

Men

I prize René Pape Germany

II prize Salvatore Champagne U.S.A.

III prize Mizuguchi Satoshi Japan

IV prize Johannes Mannov Denmark

Special Prize for Young Talent: Kirsi Tiihonen Finland and Klaus Häger Germany

Special Prize for the best foreign performance of a Finnish song: Gabriele Klein Germany

Jury

Tom Krause (Chairman), Judith Beckmann, Kim Borg, Carlo Cossutta, Matti Lehtinen, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Birgit Nilsson, Térésa Zylis-Gara.

Mustavalkoinen kuva, jossa nainen ja mies juhlapuvuissa pitävät kukkakimppuja käsissään, keskellä vanhempi rouva

1984

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Ning Liang China

II prize Dilbèr China

III prize Tanja Kauppinen Finland

IV prize Satu Sippola-Nurminen Finland

Men

I prize Vladimir Chernov Russia

II prize Olaf Bär Germany

III prize Fu Hai-Jing China

IV prize Peter Mikulás Slovakia

Tito Gobbi Memorial Prize: Vladimir Chernov Russia

Special Prize for Young Talent: Ibolya Verebics Hungary and Thomas Lander Sweden

Jury

Kim Borg (Chairman), Sena Jurinac, Matti Lehtinen, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Birgit Nilsson, Aase Nordmo Lövberg, Anna Reynolds, Irmgard Seefried.

1984

Laureates and Jury

Women

I prize Ning Liang China

II prize Dilbèr China

III prize Tanja Kauppinen Finland

IV prize Satu Sippola-Nurminen Finland

Men

I prize Vladimir Chernov Russia

II prize Olaf Bär Germany

III prize Fu Hai-Jing China

IV prize Peter Mikulás Slovakia

Tito Gobbi Memorial Prize: Vladimir Chernov Russia

Special Prize for Young Talent: Ibolya Verebics Hungary and Thomas Lander Sweden

Jury

Kim Borg (Chairman), Sena Jurinac, Matti Lehtinen, Jevgeni Nesterenko, Birgit Nilsson, Aase Nordmo Lövberg, Anna Reynolds, Irmgard Seefried.