Vocal Awards

Joel Dolven & Joy. B. Misenhimer Awards

One of the Mendelssohn Club's main contributions to furthering vocal music is the annual vocal award competition, named for the late Joel Dolven, who conducted the Mendelssohn Club from 1952-1967. Each year, the Club provides cash awards to young male and female vocalists to encourage their study.

Past Winners

Award Categories

The Club offers up to four awards, one in each of three categories: Novice Division, for students aged 15 through 18; Intermediate Division, for students aged 19 through 22; Advanced Division, for students aged 23 through 29; plus the Joy B. Misenhimer Encouragement Award, open to any student in the competition who demonstrates outstanding singing potential. Award winners also receive two tickets to our Spring Concert, where they are recognized and their awards handed out. In addition to the awards, students gain valuable experience through participation in the audition recital. Some past winners have even appeared as soloists with the Club.

Competition Format

Contestants should sing two selections. Both selections should be from the concert, lieder, opera, art song or standard musical theatre repertoire (for musical theatre: legit, mix and belt styles are all acceptable, but must be from musical theatre literature, not rock or pop music.) There is no language or memorization requirement, although memorization is strongly recommended. Contestants are encouraged to invite guests to attend the audition.

The Club hires two judges who are professional musicians and have extensive experience in the evaluation of vocal skill and musicianship.

2026 Competition

Details on the 2026 competition will be posted here in January of 2026.

Results of the 2025 Competition

The 2025 competition was held at New Covenant Presbyterian Church, 916 Western Avenue, Albany, on Saturday March 29. The judges this year were Carla Fisk and Dr. Sylvia Stoner-Hawkins. There were three entrants in the Novice division and five entrants from the Advanced division. No one registered in the Intermediate division this year.

The winner in the Novice Division was Keya Mehta.
The winner in the Advanced Division was Lauren Nash Silberstein
A Misenhimer award was made to Linden Wall from the Novice division.

Visit our past winners page to see the results of earlier competitions.