In 2025 the IVC will launch its new competition entitled ‘Theatre in Song’. The format of this competition is different and will inspire artists to engage audiences more with song and music. 
"Theatre in Song" will take place between September 26 -28, 2025 in the Theater aan de Parade in Den Bosch. 

Classical Song in recital form is a beautiful but rather exclusive vocal art form. Composers like Schubert, Schumann and Fauré wrote masterpieces in the genre. The IVC is going to make this genre more accessible to 21st-century audiences. The IVC LiedDuo Competition will be transformed into ‘Theatre in Song’. The IVC is thus introducing an initiative that encourages artists to tap into their creativity and explore innovative forms of presentation. Besides the classic song-piano duos, combinations of solo singing with, for example, guitar, lute, harp, electronics, or percussion are possible.  

The repertoire can be rooted in the tradition of German Lieder or French Mélodies, but newly composed music can also be the trigger for an interdisciplinary concept. ‘Theatre in Song’ aims to encourage collaboration with other art forms, such as theatre, dance, circus, performance, scenography, video art, visual art, design, spoken word and poetry. It opens the door for those of culturally and gender diverse backgrounds. Performances of 'Theatre in Song' should be a 40-45 minute production with a concept based on social themes. All concepts should be easily transportable to facilitate touring to different stages. 

‘Theatre in Song’ includes both monetary and international engagement prizes for the presentations. 

The 2025 jury consists of pianist and BBC Radio 3 presenter Iain Burnside, soprano Yvonne Kenny, bass Robert Holl, programmer for the Royal Concertgebouw Corné Ran, musicologist and artistic director of Musica Viva Australia Paul Kildea, stage director Simon Mcburney and General Director of the Britten Pears Arts Andrew Comben.