In addition to the prize awarded by the jury, members of the audience, in the hall and at home, were able to take part in a telephone vote to select the winner of their choice.
The prize of £2,000 and a trophy could be awarded to any of the 20 competitors, whether or not they were selected for the final of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Cardiff Singer of the World. This year, the prize was re-named in honour of the competition's late patron Dame Joan Sutherland.
The winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize 2011 was Valentina Naforniţă from Moldova, who also won the main competition.
