Timo Mustakallio Singing Competition

The 33rd Timo Mustakallio Singing Competition highlights talents of the future. The winner is not necessarily the most highly developed participant, but a singer with exceptional vocal talent and special interpretative skills.

Held since 1974, the competition has been a springboard to an international career for many prominent Finnish singers. Winners include Walton Grönroos, Raimo Sirkiä, Jorma Silvasti, Kirsi Tiihonen, Johanna Rusanen, Helena Juntunen, Marjukka Tepponen and Tuuli Takala.

Successful participants have frequently been invited to perform at the Savonlinna Opera Festival without delay. Recent winners Iris Candelaria (2019) and Johan Krogius (2021) both sang in the 2022 production of Aida and the 2023 production of The Magic Flute. Krogius and Sonja Herranen (winner of the 2019 Eero Rantala Prize) are in this summer’s Don Giovanni.

The competition was founded by opera singer and later Opera Festival director Timo Mustakallio (1929–84). It is organised by the Savonlinna Opera Festival and the Timo Mustakallio Foundation in cooperation with the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s Eero Rantala Fund.

Following the competition can easily be combined with a visit to the Opera Festival, as everything takes place on a single day. Both the opening and closing stages of the competition will be held at Savonlinnasali on Sunday 13 July 2025.  

The programme includes solo songs and opera arias chosen by the competitors.    

Further information will be provided when the registration process is completed.  

Program and cast