The Shell Aria, originally Shell Open Aria, contest was an Australian vocal competition for young classical opera singers, held annually in Canberra from 1955 to 1986, named for and sponsored by, Shell Australia in conjunction with the Australian National Eisteddfod Society (founded 1938).
The prize was particularly valuable — £1,000 cash, a year's wages for most workers. It was later redefined as a scholarship, which must be used in training overseas — a condition of eligibility. In 1966 the prize was translated to $2,000, an exact conversion, but thanks to inflation and devaluation, a fraction of the prize's original value. In 1970 it was increased to $3,000 then $4,000 in 1976. and from 1982 the winner could substitute a six-month contract with the Australian Opera for overseas travel depending on voice type. Among successful finalists who went on to international careers were Jennifer Eddy, Robert Bickerstaff, Yvonne Minton, Raymond Myers, Richard Greager, Gillian Sullivan, Jonathan Summers, Sandra Hahn and Thomas Edmonds.
At first, all heats and judging were held in Canberra, but from 1983, with the involvement of Australian Opera, Queensland Lyric Opera, Victorian State Opera, State Opera of South Australia, and Western Australian Opera, preliminary heats took place in each State capital, with the finalists being flown to Canberra for the Finals.
Prizewinners Year Winner 2nd 3rd 1955 Jennifer Eddy She returned to Canberra in 1978 as adjudicator. Valerie Collins Geoffrey Chard1956 Valerie Collins As Valerie Collins-Varga she returned to Canberra in 1972 as a guest of honour. Robert Bickerstaff Neil Warren-Smith1957 Gloria McDonall Russell Cooper Kevin Mills1958 Robert Bickerstaff He returned to Canberra in 1979 as adjudicator. June Barron Nita Maughan1959 Kevin Stumbles June Barton Arthur Mee1960 Yvonne Minton Elaine Blight Roslyn Dunbar1961 June Barton Patricia Connop Waverney Ford1962 Patricia Woolridge Janice Hearne Robert Haase1963 Raymond Myers later misspelled Meyers by Hoffmann Barry Purcell Geoffrey Harnett1964 Jan Bartlett Marion Miller Thomas McDonnell1965 Pettine-Anne Croul Waverney Ford Ian Holston1966 Judith Turner Geoffrey Harnett George Hogg1967 Valerie Hanlon John Pringle Thomas Edmonds1968 Geraldine Hackett-Jones A student of Arnold Matters Thomas Edmonds George Hogg1969 Thomas Edmonds A student of Arnold Matters Margaret Garrett Ian Holston1970 Richard Greager Phillip Langshaw David Smith1971 Phillip Langshaw (not found) Janet Allan1972 Peter Pianella Maxwell Jarman Yvonne Laki1973 John Pickering Jacqueline Chapman Jonathan Summers1974 Jonathan Summers Frances Chambers Christopher Field1975 Wendy Verco Kenneth Cornish Rex Taylor1976 Irene Tirbutt Carole McKenzie Douglas Gibbs1977 Gillian Sullivan(as Gillian Wood) Marie Driscoll Linda Elder1978 Jenny Lindfield John Fulford Constantine Mavridis1979 Sandra Hahn John Fulford Amanda Thane1980 John Fulford Joanne Neal Colin Slater1981 Barry Ryan Rosemary Boyle Claire Primrose1982 Sussanne Towers Helen Burnham Christine Beasley1983 Fiona Maconaghie Suzanne Johnston Louise Camens1984 Christine Farraro W. L. Hoffmann at odds with adjudicator Roger Lemke Gregory Tomlinson1985 Karen Sourry Stephen Bennett Anna Connolly1986 Peter Coleman-Wright Fiona Janes Elisa Wilson There was no 1987 contest. Shell Australia withdrew from sponsorship and distanced itself from the Australian National Eisteddfod Society. Instead, it became a partner with Opera Foundation Australia, as sponsor of The Shell Royal Opera House Covent Garden Scholarship, the first competition to be held in Adelaide on 10 May 1987.
See also Melbourne Sun Aria, a similar contest Mobil Quest South Street Society
References Most of these Canberra Times reviews were written by William Laurence Hoffmann, a Canberra resident from 1946 and music journalist from 1962 to 1995. He was awarded an AOM in January 1985.