The Jury of the VI Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition awarded the prizes as follows:

For women: 
1st prize (€25 000): Yulia Lezhneva, soprano, Russian
2nd prize (€20 000): Nadine Sierra, soprano, American
3rd prize (€15 000): Keunghea Kang, soprano, Korean
4th prize (€10 000): Kishani Jayasinghe, soprano, Sri Lankan

For men: 
1st prize (€5 000): Kihwan Sim, bass, Korean
2nd prize (€20 000): Timothy Mix, baritone, American
3rd prize (€15 000): David DQ Lee, countertenor, Canadian
4th prize (€10 000): Azamat Zheltyrguzov, baritone, Kazakh

The prize of €3 000 for the best performance by a non-Finnish singer of a Finnish song went to German soprano Katharina Göres. In addition to the main prize the winners were offered an opportunity to give a recital at the Musashino Hall in Tokyo. The prize sum totalled €143 000.

The Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition culminated in the sold-out Final at the Finnish National Opera, where the finalists were accompanied by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leif Segerstam. The prize-winners will give a concert at the Madetoja Hall in Oulu at 19.00 on August 14 with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leif Segerstam. Tickets for this concert are on sale at Lippupiste.

More details on the Competition web-pages

Taking part in the VI Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition were 49 young singers. The Preliminary Round on August 3-8 was followed by the Semifinals on August 8-9 and the Final on August 12.
The Mirjam Helin Competition is one of the world's leading singing competitions. Famous for its high standard, demanding repertoire and prestigious Jury, it is organised by the Finnish Cultural Foundation once every five years.

Further info
Marja-Leena Pétas, Executive Secretary
tel. +358 9 6128 1248, 050 501 4026
mp@mirjamhelin.fi
www.mirjamhelin.fi

Communications Officer
Raija Kaljunen
tel. +358 9 6128 1246, 050 340 8048
raija.kaljunen@mirjamhelin.fi