WICHITA-- Wichita Grand Opera is pleased to announce that its General Director, Parvan Bakardiev, has been invited to serve on the jury of the prestigious Ferruccio Tagliavini Vocal Competition in Deutschlandsberg and Graz, Austria in April of 2005.  Bakardiev received the invitation from the competition’s Aristic Director, Vittorio Terranova.  This is the eleventh year for the competition.

Participants in the competition are to present a program of four to seven works depending on category of the vocalist.  Prizes are awarded to the top four vocalists in each category and range from 250 euros to 5500 euros plus four concert engagements.  Other cash and performance prizes are available.  They include: a special prize of 2200 euros, courtesy of the City of Graz to the best Tenor finalist; a role in an opera at Graz, courtesy of Sven Muller, Director of Oper Graz; and a special prize of 500 euros awarded by the audience.

Bakardiev has the honor of being the only juror from the United States for the competition in 2005.  Other jurors include:  Vittorio Terranova; Sven Muller, Director of Oper Graz; Paolo Barbacini, Artistic Director of Int. Operatic Singing Competitions of Masini, Emilia, and Argiris, Sarzana; Alberto Triola, Artistic Director of Teatro Carlo Felice, Genova and Teatro Ponchielli, Cremona; Enzo Dara, bass; and Marco Tutino, Composer and Artistic Director of Teatro Regio, Torino.

Sponsors of the competition are Grazer Oper, State of Steiermark, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa Airlines, and Austrian television.

For additional information on the 11^th International Singing Competition “Ferruccio Tagliavini” or on the Wichita Grand Opera, please call 316.683.3444.