A special prize established by Maria Guleghina is awarded to dramatic sopranos.
Applicants wishing to be considered for this prize must perform an aria from Maria Guleghina’s repertoire in either the Second or Third Round and indicate their application for the prize in the registration form.

It is about her that critics wrote - in her veins flows not blood, but the very music of Giuseppe Verdi.
Miss Standing Ovations - one of the main opera theaters in the world – The Metropolitan Opera.
Her partners are the best of the best - Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Renato Bruson, Zubin Mehta, Marco Berti, Valery Gergiev, Riccardo Muti, and many other renowned singers and conductors.
She has opened seasons at La Scala and has sung a record number of productions of Tosca at La Scala and other opera theaters.
Gulegina's repertoire demonstrates her exceptional versatility, encompassing iconic roles such as Tosca and Turandot, as well as Aida, Manon Lescaut, Norma, Fedora, Adriana Lecouvreur, and Macbeth.
Her unique voice is powerful and warm, truly dramatic, having conquered the most prestigious opera stages in the world multiple times.
Starting her career at the Belarusian State Opera, Gulegina made an unforgettable debut at La Scala as Amelia in "Un Ballo in Maschera" alongside Luciano Pavarotti.
Her collaboration with La Scala includes performances in 15 new productions, tours in Japan, and solo concerts. The Metropolitan Opera celebrated her debut in 1991, where she performed over 150 performances in various roles, ranging from Tosca and Aida to Norma and Lady Macbeth.
Gulegina's debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1991 was triumphant, followed by performances at Covent Garden and the Royal Opera, where she sang the role of Fedora and other recognized characters.
Her debut at the Arena di Verona in 1996, playing Abigail in "Nabucco," earned her the "Giovanni Zanettello Award," and since then, she has been a regular soloist at the Arena di Verona.
In addition to her successes in opera, Gulegina is actively involved in humanitarian initiatives. She collaborates with UNICEF to support children affected by poverty and conflict, highlighting the need for global unity.
Throughout her outstanding career, Gulegina has performed solo parts worldwide, with numerous productions broadcast on radio and television. Collaborating with renowned singers and conductors such as Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Leo Nucci, Renato Bruson, José Cura, Samuel Ramey, Riccardo Muti, James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Fabio Luisi, and Claudio Abbado, she has received prestigious awards such as the Puccini Prize, the Bellini Prize, and the Giovanni Zanettello Award.

Craig Rutenberg is widely recognized for his significant contributions to the field of vocal training and has a reputation as one of the leading experts in this domain. His involvement in the competition promises to bring invaluable expertise and insights to the participants.
In addition to the competitive events, the competition will feature a series of masterclasses offered by some of the most distinguished and inspiring vocal coaches in the world. These masterclasses aim to provide aspiring singers with unique learning experiences, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their vocal techniques.

Belarusian soprano Nadine Koutcher graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in 2011 after early studies in Minsk. A series of competition victories, including the Grand Prix at 's-Hertogenbosch (2012), propelled her career.
Her collaboration with conductor Teodor Currentzis at the Perm Opera was pivotal, earning her the Golden Mask award in 2013 for "Medea Material." Winning the main prize at Cardiff Singer of the World in 2015 led to major debuts across Europe and South America at venues such as the Berlin State Opera, Teatro Real Madrid, and Opéra de Paris. Recent engagements include her Italian debut at Teatro Regio di Torino in 2023.

Musicologist, PhD in Arts, Assistant Professor, Head of the Chair of Music History of the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. L. Sahakyan undertook graduate and postgraduate studies at the Komitas state Conservatory. She defended her dissertation thesis at the Institute of Arts of the National Academy of Sciences of RA in 2007. Sahakyan is the author of a monograph Komitas Studies in Armenian Musicology (Yerevan, 2010), as well as a number of articles published in Armenia and abroad. The scope of her research includes Komitas studies, Armenian music and issues on the interconnections between Armenian and World music.

Jordi Pujal has been employed for over 30 years at a big Anglo-Dutch multinational company. He also was active in the Communications Department of the Gran Teatre del Liceu. He serves as a member of the jury for international vocal competitions and sits on the management teams of the Mirella Freni Association and the Maria Guleghina Foundation in Armenia.
Jordi spearheads initiatives to promote opera across various Catalan libraries and theaters. As a respected voice in the field, he publishes articles, contributes to several books, hosts musical and theatrical events, and organizes round tables focusing on theater, opera, and dance. His media presence includes participation in radio programs, television shows, and international documentaries featuring renowned opera figures such as Éva Marton, Edita Gruberová, and Maria Guleghina.
Additionally, Jordi collaborates with the Institute of Theater and the Museum of Performing Arts in Barcelona, further enriching the cultural landscape.

Mikhail Egiazaryan is an internationally renowned pianist and conductor specialising in operatic repertoire. His work spans a wide range of productions, including La Traviata by Verdi, Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart, Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène and Orphée aux enfers, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Prokofiev’s War and Peace, Erenberg’s Vampuka, the African Bride, and Dargomyzhsky’s The Stone Guest, which he conducted and directed.
He has also led projects such as Gershwin Gala, an operatic-jazz programme based on the music of George Gershwin, conducted Poulenc’s La voix humaine with Tamara Gverdtsiteli, and served as Musical Director for the children’s production In the Land of Opera Tales.
Mikhail has recorded with the Helikon-Opera Orchestra, including the series Romance of Romance and the programme Songs of War and Peace with Maria Guleghina for the Culture Channel, and recorded Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène for Radio Russia.
Alongside his performing career, he founded the chamber vocal project Gift of the Singing Soul and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Step to the Stage Foundation. He teaches at the Moscow State College of Musical Arts named after Gnessin, and his former students continue their studies at institutions such as the Moscow State Conservatory, the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, and the Royal College of Music in London.

Polina Di Grande is a talented opera singer, a dedicated vocal coach, and a skilled manager. With her extensive experience in the world of classical music, she has captivated audiences with her powerful and expressive performances. In addition to her career as a performer, Polina works passionately as a vocal coach, helping aspiring singers develop their technique and artistry. She also brings her organizational talents to her role as a manager, overseeing artistic projects and collaborations. Her multifaceted expertise and dedication make her a respected figure in the music community, committed to nurturing talent and promoting excellence in the world of opera.

Katarine Hovsepyan was born on January 4, 1983, in Yerevan, Armenia. She studied piano at the Armen Tigranyan Music School (1989–1996) and later at the Tchaikovsky Music School and the Komitas State Conservatory, where she earned a degree in piano performance (until 2004) and completed postgraduate studies (2004–2006). She also took organ performance courses and holds a Master’s in History from Yerevan State University (2020–2022).
Professionally, she served as organist at Surb Khach Church (1996–2012) and has worked at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory as an accompanist and assistant since 2004. She has also been an accompanist at Sayat-Nova (2004–2022) and Stepan Jrbashyan (2011–2022) music schools. Since 2013, she has served as an accompanist and music lecturer at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin and, since 2021, as choir director of the Holy Savior Church in Ararat. Since 2022, she has been Head of the Concert Department at the Komitas Museum-Institute and coordinator of the state “School Philharmonia” program.
Hovsepyan has participated in international festivals and competitions, winning 3rd place and a “Best Accompanist” prize at the Komitas Competition in Berlin (2014), and took part in the “World Music” festival in Turkmenistan (2025). She has attended masterclasses in Zurich, Zagreb, and Milan.