06/10/2025

Tenor Dimitri Petrov and soprano Alba Valdivieso, winners of the UIC Barcelona Singing Competition

The first edition of the UIC Barcelona Singing Competition has come to an end with Russian tenor Dimitri Petrov and Catalan soprano Alba Valdivieso sharing first place, after the jury chaired by Carlos Checa decided to recognise the talent of both young participants

The UIC Barcelona Singing Competition, the brainchild of Faculty of Education Sciences lecturer Carolina Estrada, has honoured the outstanding ability of two young operatic talents: Russian-born Dimitri Petrov, who has resided in Catalonia for the past three years, and Catalonia’s own Alba Valdivieso. The final took place on 3 October in UIC Barcelona’s Aula Magna, with the participation of six finalists.

After four days of closed-door auditions and masterclasses by professionals such as Josep Bros and Carmen Bustamante, on 3 October, the Aula Magna at UIC Barcelona played host to performances by six young singers, aged 22 to 29, who offered renditions of works by both Catalan and international composers. Following the deliberation by the professional jury, and before over 100 attendees, the conductor and composer of UIC Barcelona’s anthem, Carlos Checa, delivered the night’s most eagerly awaited announcement: the winner of the UIC Barcelona Singing Competition.

Dimitri Petrov (22) was born in Kazan, Russia, and educated at the Kazan Conservatory of Music. He moved to Barcelona in March 2022 and began studying at the Liceu Conservatory. Alba Valdivieso (23), on the other hand, made her debut as a soloist in the role of Rowan in Benjamin Britten’s The Little Sweep at the Liceu Theatre, and since then has played numerous characters in theatres across Europe.

The other participants also received various awards, thanks to partnerships with cultural institutions. By order of performance, event participants included Ana Arias, Álvaro Basco, Laura Gibert, Natàlia Morales, Dimitri Petrov and Alba Valdivieso.

The UIC Barcelona Singing Competition is the result of a research project conducted by Faculty of Education Sciences lecturer Carolina Estrada, which has been approved and is supported by the Government of Catalonia’s Ministry of Culture. The competition has become a singular platform for developing the talent of young singers and setting them on a professional path, with special prizes and opportunities for paid concerts.