It’s every singer’s aspiration to see how he or she stacks up against other talent in the field. For Spring Hill vocalist Audrey Ann Southard, that moment of truth came about a week ago when she boarded a plane for a trip to the scenic Mediterranean island of Sicily.

For the 43-year-old Southard, who teaches voice privately, the sojourn to the Ibla Grand Prize Bellini International Vocal Competition is a chance to make good on a personal promise to herself. The competition is open to any singer, amateur or professional. Unlike other vocal contests, performers have several opportunities to sing before judges over a 10-day period, which concludes Tuesday. Participants get to perform in numerous venues throughout the city of Ragusa, from churches to cafes to parks. The top prize pays $25,000.

“I’ve been studying vocal performance for about 10 years now, and I think I’m ready for this,” Southard said in a recent interview. “It’s probably one of those now-or-never things.”

For more on Audrey Ann Southard, click here for Logan Neill's story.