Second Prize was awarded to tenor Nicolás Noguchi, 32, who also received the award for the best interpretation of the compulsory Chilean work. Third Prize went to soprano Daria Brusova, 28. The three finalists were selected by a jury including singers Claudia Pereira, Patricio Sabaté and Mariselle Martínez, pianist and vocal coach Juan Lázaro, and Álex Fernández, Casting Director of the Municipal Theatre of Santiago. The latter joined the jury for the final round.
One of the distinctive elements of the anniversary edition was the world premiere of La Tumba de los Signos, a work commissioned from Chilean composer Tomás Brantmayer and inspired by the writings of Juan Luis Martínez, a poet and artist associated with Viña del Mar. All eight semifinalists performed the composition, incorporating three words of their own choice into its musical structure. The commission continued the competition's tradition of introducing international participants to contemporary Chilean music.
The anniversary programme also placed considerable emphasis on education and professional exchange. At the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Juan Lázaro, who works with the Metropolitan Opera in New York as a Spanish diction coach, led a vocal masterclass. Composer Tomás Brantmayer met with music education students at the University of Valparaíso to discuss his creative process, while jury members Mariselle Martínez and Patricio Sabaté participated in a discussion on professional singing at the Izidor Handler Conservatory of Music.
Another session, entitled "A Life in the Arts", brought Álex Fernández together with students of the university's Creative Industries programme. The discussion addressed artist representation, talent development, changes in the cultural sector and the impact of artificial intelligence on professional careers.
The competition's activities also extended beyond Viña del Mar. Five semifinalists performed a free concert in Concón, while seven additional outreach concerts were scheduled throughout October in Viña del Mar, Villa Alemana, Valparaíso and San Felipe. These activities formed part of an effort to make the international competition accessible to audiences throughout the region.
As Macarena Ruiz Balart, General Manager of Espacio Cultural Viña del Mar, explained in the Chilean press, the Sigall Competition is not simply an event lasting one week, but an opportunity to build relationships between the city, cultural institutions, musicians and audiences. The 50th edition provided a particularly appropriate occasion to strengthen these connections, combining international competition with local artistic development and public participation.
