The Opera Awards is an singing competition for professional Australian opera singers. It was established in 1986 with the purpose of assisting and developing professional Australian opera singers. This is achieved through programs of study with selected international educational institutions, engagements with professional opera companies, as well as through introduction, networking and educational opportunities with prominent members of the international operatic community.
The Opera Awards consists of a group of awards, including the Youth Music Foundation (YMF) Australia Award and the Armstrong-Martin Scholarship, amongst others. Major sponsors and supporters of the awards have included YMF Australia, the Armstrong-Martin Estate, Haas Foundation, The Glyndebourne Festival Opera (UK), the Royal Over-Seas League (UK) and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust.
History In 1986/87, the Music & Opera Singers Trust (MOST) created the Opera Awards as a competition within the Australian SInging Competition, and then as a separate, stand-alone competition in 2001.
The competition provides cash prizes, scholarships and career opportunities to professional Australian opera singers, enabling the study of grand opera and related music overseas.
Since 2007, the primary award within the Opera Awards is the YMF Australia Award, sponsored by YMF Australia. The recipient of the Opera Awards receives a group of awards, scholarships and opportunities which include the YMF Australia Award, the Armstrong-Martin Scholarship, the Haas Foundation Award and the Editorial Resources Prize.
Runners-up receive prizes and opportunities which include (in 2011) The Royal Over-Seas League (UK) Music Bursary, the Britten-Pears Young Artists Programme, the Glyndebourne Festival Prize, and the 4MBS Classic FM Award.
The recipient of the Opera Awards (Australia) is acknowledged and invited to perform at the Finals Concert of the Australian Singing Competition.
Recipients
Year Opera Awards recipient Category Adjudicators (chair) 1986 Francesco Fabris baritone Jenifer Eddy 1987 Helen Adams soprano Elizabeth Fretwell 1988 Stephen Ibbotsen tenor Ronald Maconaghie, Margreta Elkins 1989 Lucas de Jong baritone Margreta Elkins 1990 Akiko Nakajima soprano Joseph Ward 1991 not awarded 1992 Elisa Wilson soprano Joseph Ward 1993 Douglas McNichol baritone Joseph Ward 1994 Fiona Campbell soprano Stephen Barlow 1995 Ingrid Silveus soprano Myer Fredman 1996 Amelia FarrugiaOpera Australia. "Our Artists. Amelia Farrugia", 1996 soprano Myer Fredman 1997 Donna-Marie Dunlop soprano Myer Fredman 1998 Jamie Allen tenor Myer Fredman 1999 Adrian McEniery tenor Roderick Brydon 2000 Han Lim baritone Andrew Greene 2001 Nicole Youl soprano Myer Fredman 2002 Hyeseoung KwonOpera Australia. "Our Artists. Hyeseoung Kwon", 2002 soprano Vladimir Kamirsky 2003 not held 2004 José CarbóOpera Australia. "Our Artists. Jose Carbo", 2004 baritone Richard Bonynge 2005 Tamsyn Stock-Stafford soprano Patrick Thomas 2006 Amy Wilkinson soprano Imre Palló 2007 James Homann baritone Vladimir Kamirsky 2008 Shane LowrencevOpera Australia. "Our Artists. Shane Lowrencev", 2008 bass Richard Bonynge 2009 Emma PearsonOpera Australia. "Our Artists. Emma Pearson", 2009 soprano Jonathan Darlington 2010 Lorina GoreOpera Australia. "Our Artists. Lorina Gore", 2010 soprano Richard Bonynge 2011 Zara Barrett soprano Andrea Molino 2012 Nicole Car soprano Brian Castles-Onion 2014 Jonathan Abernethy tenor Greg Hocking 2017 Adrian Tamburini"Adrian Tamburini Triumphs at the 2017 Opera Awards" Limelight Magazine, 20 March 2017 bass-baritone Simon Kenway 2019 Anna Dowsley"Anna Dowsley Wins the 2019 Opera Awards" Limelight Magazine, 29 November 2019 mezzo-soprano Benjamin Northey 2023Eleanor Greenwood. "2023 Opera Awards Winner Announced" Limelight Magazine, 31 March 2023] soprano Dr Di Bresciani OAM
References
External links
Australian Singing Competition website Music & Opera Singers Trust Limited (MOST) website Youth Music Foundation (YMF) Australia website