The International Solo Singers Competition "Lazar Jovanović" is the most important and largest opera competition in the region and one of the most significant opera events in Serbia. This manifestation is a story of organic growth, from a pedagogical gem founded in 2004, to a professional platform of world renown.
The competition was founded by professor Ljubica Živković in honor of the renowned Yugoslav tenor Lazar Jovanović. A key moment in history occurred in 2016 when the organization was taken over by the "Cultural Element" association, transitioning the project from an educational framework to the sphere of a public, professional cultural institution. From 2017 to 2023, the competition found its home at the Kolarac Endowment, while today it finds its future on the stage of the National Theatre in Belgrade.
Today, the competition gathers over a hundred participants from around fifteen countries every year. Laureates get the opportunity for solo concerts and engagements in significant opera houses, thus continuing the mission of nurturing top-tier art defined by Lazar Jovanović himself. We invite all young artists to apply for the next cycle.