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The Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition honors the memory of Eastman’s beloved German professor, Jessie Kneisel, and is made possible through the extraordinary generosity of Eastman alumnus George McWhorter. The competition is held annually in May with the preliminary round in March. The preliminary round is judged by the entire Voice, Opera and Vocal Coaching faculty, while the finals are judged by an invited distinguished guest.

Substantial cash prizes are awarded to both the top four singers as well as the top four pianists. The Kneisel Lieder Competition is truly thrilling each year and represents a one-of-a-kind opportunity amongst the music schools in the United States.