Late Tuesday evening, May 29, Zarin Mehta, president of the jury, announced the names of the eight singers advancing to the art song semifinal of the 2018 Montreal International Music Competition.

They are, in alphabetical order:

John Brancy, baritone (29, United States)
Rihab Chaieb, mezzo-soprano (31, Canada/Tunisia)
Axelle Fanyo, soprano (29, France)
Clara Osowski, mezzo-soprano (32, United States)
Irina Jae-Eun Park, soprano (30, South Korea)
Tomi Punkeri, baritone (27, Finland)
Gemma Summerfield, soprano (27, United Kingdom)
Julien Van Mellaerts, baritone (30, New Zealand/United Kingdom)

The eight art song semifinalists were chosen from a field of 16 singers following a first round of 15-minute recitals that took place at Bourgie Hall in downtown Montreal. The semifinalists will each give a 20- to 25-minute recital on Friday, June 1, to vie for a spot in the finals.

The semifinalists in the competition's other category (aria) will be announced Thursday, May 31, following the first-round performances.

The singers at the 2018 Montreal International Music Competition are competing for $270,000 in prizes, including a first prize of $80,000 in both the art song category and the aria category.

The jury comprises Edith Bers (United States), Ben Heppner (Canada), Soile Isokoski (Finland), Warren Jones (United States), François Le Roux (France), Felicity Lott (United Kingdom), Richard Rodzinski (United States), Joseph Rouleau (Canada), Kiri Te Kanawa (New Zealand) and Zarin Mehta (jury president).

All performances at the 2018 Montreal International Music Competition are webcast and the performances are archived on the competition's YouTube page. Join CBC Music's "phantom jury" for lively online discussion about the competition on Twitter via #CMIM2018.

More to explore:

Watch the 2018 Montreal International Music Competition

Meet our 'phantom jurors' for the 2018 Montreal International Music Competition