Elisse Albian '20

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Soprano Elisse Albian '20 earned the first prize and Audience Choice Award at the National Oratorio Competition hosted by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park on Feb. 13.

With the honor, they received $5,000 cash and future solo engagement with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park and/or the Messiah Choral Society of Orlando, in addition to $500 for the Audience Choice Award.

During the week of Feb. 9, eight finalists participated in public coaching sessions, masterclasses and rehearsals as part of the 91st Annual Bach Festival, one of the nation’s longest-running Bach festivals.

The competition concluded with a final concert featuring the full Bach orchestra on Feb. 13, at Knowles Memorial Chapel on the campus of Rollins College, where judges selected and announced the top winners.

Established in 2025, the competition supports emerging singers by offering young performers the opportunity to experience the joy of collaborative singing with an orchestra. It is open to unmanaged American singers with a demonstrated interest in oratorio (choir and orchestra) repertoire.