Final Concert and announcement of competition results

Mariana POLTORAK, a Ukrainian soprano of Polish heritage and graduate of the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków, has won the first prize (43,000 PLN) at the 21ˢᵗ Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition. The decision was made by an international jury chaired by Małgorzata Walewska, the competition’s Artistic Director. The soprano also received an award for the outstanding performance of a Polish piece – specifically for "Ha! Dzieciątko nam umiera" (Halka’s scene and aria from Act IV of Stanisław Moniuszko’s opera Halka).

"I can’t believe this is happening. For me, this is a tremendous honour. I’ve worked hard for a long time, and now this award confirms that I’m on the right path," said Marianna Poltorak, who has been living in Poland for nine years and is currently working on her doctorate on 20th-century Lviv school of composers’ solo songs. "The most challenging part for me was the second stage, where the jury selected which of the six pieces we had to perform. I was also a bit nervous about singing Wagner in the final because I wasn’t sure if my voice would carry over the orchestra. But I decided to take the risk because I wanted to showcase my voice from different angles," she added. Mariana Poltorak applied three times to the Ada Sari Competition and only succeeded in reaching Nowy Sącz and participating this year, on her third attempt. She is a participant in the "Akademia Operowa" (Opera Academy) Young Talent Training Programme at the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera in Warsaw, where she studies under Olga Pasiecznik, Izabela Kłosińska, Michał Biel, and Sophia Muñoz.

The second prize (13,000 PLN each) was awarded ex aequo to two sopranos: Jessica Seo Jin LEE from South Korea and Etīna Emīlija SAULĪTE from Latvia. The third prize (9,000 PLN) went to Polish baritone Artur GARBAS.

"This award is very important to me. I used to be a bass-baritone, but I’ve shifted to baritone, expanded my range, and developed a new repertoire. This prize proves that my efforts weren’t in vain—it’s recognition of my hard work. I’m deeply grateful," said Artur Garbas. What does he believe is the key to success? "You must prepare, trust yourself, step onto the stage, and sing your very best," he added with a smile, noting that the upcoming season will be exceptionally busy for him, as he has many demanding roles to perform at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, where he has been an ensemble member for a year.

Additionally, the jury awarded two distinctions (3,000 PLN each) to sopranos Mariya MEDETOVA from Kazakhstan and Viktoriia SHAMANSKA from Ukraine. The prize for the best performance of a contemporary piece (2,000 PLN) went to Ukrainian soprano Daria KOROLOVA for her rendition of Valeria’s aria "I never thought a boy who would love me" from Tom Cipullo’s opera Mayo. The same artist also received the Ada Sari Prize (3,000 PLN) for the most promising soprano, funded by Jacek Lelek, Mayor of Stary Sącz.

Meanwhile, the Helena Łazarska Prize (5,000 PLN) for the best performance of a Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart piece was awarded to Jessica Seo Jin LEE for "Temerari / Come scoglio" (recitative and aria of Fiordiligi from Act I of Mozart’s Così fan tutte). The prize was funded by Antoni Malczak, initiator and director of the Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Festival and Competition from 1985 to 2019.

"I’d like to thank all the participants of our competition and emphasise that, to me, you are all winners," said Małgorzata Walewska, jury chair and Artistic Director of the 21st Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition. "Tomorrow, during the Winners’ Concert, we’ll have time to thank all the individuals, institutions, partners, and sponsors involved in our event," she added.

The final auditions took place before a live audience, who enthusiastically applauded the artists. The concert was filled with high emotion, as the competition level was exceptionally strong. As Małgorzata Walewska told journalists, it was "a battle of nerves". The tension in the auditorium was palpable, which may be why the audience cheered the young artists so generously.

The eight finalists were: Artur GARBAS, Daria KOROLOVA, Jessica Seo Jin LEE, Mariya MEDETOVA, Mariana POLTORAK, Szymon RACZKOWSKI, Etīna Emīlija SAULĪTE, and Viktoriia SHAMANSKA. Each singer performed two arias, selected from the mandatory repertoire list. They were accompanied by the Kraków Opera Orchestra under the baton of Marta Kluczyńska.

The final and the announcement of the results were streamed on adasari.pl and, for the first time, on the international platform operavision.eu, which offers free broadcasts and reruns of the world’s most famous operas. Over two thousand viewers from around the world tuned in.

The artists were judged by an international jury, which, alongside chair Małgorzata Walewska (mezzo-soprano, vocal pedagogue), included: Michael Barobeck – Musicologist, dramaturge, and Casting Director at Graz Opera; Viviana Barrios – Head of Young Artists Relations, Casting at Deutsche Oper Berlin; Andrzej Dobber – Baritone singer, vocal pedagogue, and Artistic Director of the International Adam Didur Opera Singers' Competition; Marcin Habela – Baritone singer, professor of Voice at the Geneva University of Music and the University of Lugano; Artistic Advisor for the Tibor Varga Academy of Music in Sion, Switzerland, and the Anargyriou & Korgialenios School of Music Academy on Spetses, Greece; Eeva-Maria Kopp – ArtProducer at the Bregenz Festival, soprano singer and vocal pedagogue; Sebastian Ukena – Opera Director and Head of the Opera Studio at Komische Oper in Berlin; Claudia Visca – Professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, soprano singer; Paweł Żółciński – Secretary of the Jury.

The final day of the competition is ahead. On Saturday, 24 May, at 11 AM, a press conference will be held at the Małopolska Cultural Centre SOKÓŁ in Nowy Sącz, where winners, jurors, and organisers will be available to the media. In the evening, at 7 PM, also at MCK SOKÓŁ, the Winners’ Concert will take place. Prizes will be awarded, and the laureates will perform some of the most beautiful renditions of famous arias. As in the final, the Kraków Opera Orchestra, conducted by Marta Kluczyńska, will accompany the singers.

The Winners’ Concert will be streamed at: www.adasari.pl

The finalists received an abundance of prizes, not only statutory awards but also special distinctions. Details are available in the jury’s official report.

Verdict of the Jury of the 21st Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition in Nowy Sącz

Jury composed of: Małgorzata Walewska – the Chair, Michael Barobeck, Viviana Barrios, Andrzej Dobber, Marcin Habela, Eeva-Maria Kopp, Sebastian Ukena, and Claudia Visca — whose Secretary was Paweł Żółciński – granted the following awards:

MAIN AWARDS

FIRST AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 43,000
Mariana POLTORAK, sopran, Ukraina

TWO SECOND AWARDS EACH IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 13,000
Jessica Seo Jin LEE, sopran, Korea Południowa
Etīna Emīlija SAULĪTE, sopran, Łotwa

THIRD AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 9,000
Artur GARBAS, baryton, Polska

TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS EACH IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 3,000
Mariya MEDETOVA, sopran, Kazachstan
Viktoriia SHAMANSKA, sopran, Ukraina

SPECIAL AWARDS

AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 3,000 FOR AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF AN ART SONG
Mariya MEDETOVA for the performance of the cycle of Art Songs Sieben frühe Lieder by Alban Berg

AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 3,000 FOR AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF A POLISH PIECE
Mariana POLTORAK for the performance of S. Moniuszko – Ha! Dzieciątko nam umiera scene and aria by Halka from the Act IV to the opera Halka

AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 2,000 FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CONTEMPORARY PIECE
Daria KOROLOVA for the performance of Waleria’s aria I never thought a boy who would love me from an opera Mayo by Tom Cipullo

HELENA ŁAZARSKA AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 5,000 FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PIECE BY WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Jessica Seo Jin LEE for the performance of W.A. Mozart – Temerari / Come scoglio, recitative and aria by Fiordiligi from the Act I of the opera Così fan tutte 
Founder of the Award is Antoni Malczak, Initiatior and Director of the Ada Sari International Festival and Vocal Artistry Competition in 1985-2019

ADA SARI AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 3,000 FOR THE MOST PROMISING SOPRANO
Daria KOROLOVA
Founder of the Award is Jacek Lelek, the Mayor of Stary Sącz City

2 AWARDS EACH IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 3,500 FOR AN OUTSTANDING PIANIST - ACCOMPANIST
Laura KLUWAK-SOBOLEWSKA
Aleksander TELIGA

AWARDS GRANTED BY THE FOUNDERS AND THE CHAIR OF THE JURY of the 21st Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition in Nowy Sącz

THE UNION OF PERFORMING ARTISTS STOART AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 6,700 FOR THE BEST POLISH COMPETITION WINNER
Artur GARBAS

THE BOGUSŁAW KACZYŃSKI ORFEO FOUNDATION AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 5,000 FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN OPERA ARIA
Mariana POLTORAK

TWO AWARDS FROM THE MUSICAL THEATRES SECTION OF THE UNION OF POLISH STAGE ARTISTS, EACH IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 2,000 FOR THE GREATEST ARTISTIC PERSONALITY OF THE COMPETITION FOR FEMALE AND MALE VOICE
Etīna Emīlija SAULĪTE, sopran, Łotwa
Szymon RACZKOWSKI, baryton, Polska

THE BOGDAN PAPROCKI ASSOCIATION AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF PLN 2,000 FOR THE BEST TENOR OF THE COMPETITION
Jihoon DO

THE KAROL SZYMANOWSKI KRAKOW PHILHARMONIC 2 AWARD, GRANTED IN THE FORM OF THE COMPETITION WINNERS’ PARTICIPATION IN A CONCERT DURING THE 2025/2026 CONCERT SEASON
Mariana POLTORAK
Artur GARBAS

THE KRYNICA-ZDRÓJ CULTURAL CENTRE AWARD GRANTED IN THE FORM OF A PERFORMANCE AT THE 58TH JAN KIEPURA FESTIVAL IN KRYNICA-ZDRÓJ
Szymon RACZKOWSKI

THE KRAKOW OPERA DIRECTOR AWARD IN THE FORM OF AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PERFORMANCE
Artur GARBAS

11 JEWELLERY PRIZES AWARDED TO THE FINALISTS, SELECTED PARTICIPANTS AND THE PIANISTS OF THE COMPETITION, FUNDED BY JUBILER SEZAM
Laura KLUWAK-SOBOLEWSKA, Daria KOROLOVA, Jessica Seo Jin LEE, Mariya MEDETOVA, Mariana POLTORAK, Etīna Emīlija SAULĪTE, Viktoriia SHAMANSKA, Artur GARBAS, Szymon RACZKOWSKI, Jihoon DO, Aleksander TELIGA

Monetary awards, aside from those previously mentioned, which have been funded by local governments, associations, and private individuals, are financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage under the MUZYKA Program and by the SOKÓŁ Małopolska Cultural Centre in Nowy Sącz, the main organizer of the competition.