Philosophy & Objectives

“A wonderful task - there is nothing better than letting people find themselves through the medium of their voice.”

The Hildegard Zadek Foundation was founded in 1997 to support young singers at the start of their careers. The HZF helps to bridge the transition from study to stage and gives young singers the opportunity to hone their skills in collaboration with experienced artists.

From 1999 to 2019, the HZF held an international singing competition every two years with a special emphasis on contemporary music and new compositions. In addition to the cash prize, the winners benefited from public concert appearances, scholarship support, and the opportunity to work with artistic directors of the Young Singers.

Since 2021, the Foundation awards grants that are directly linked to the opera studios of large international opera houses.

The HZF thanks its growing network of sponsors and partners who work with the Foundation to enable as many young singers as possible to benefit from this opportunity.