2011 Countdown is on

2011 Countdown is on for this years IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert — 30 years discovering and providing career building opportunities for our finest young singing talent…

Semi-Finals Concert Wrap Up
On Wednesday 7 September at the Independent Theatre in North Sydney, 10 young opera singers from around Australia and New Zealand competed in the Semi-Finals Concert of the IFAC Australian Singing Competition.

Accompanied by David Harper, the 10 Semi-Finalists competed for a total prize pool of $24,000. Five Finalists were chosen by an distinguised adjudication panel — Peter Czornyj, Anthony Legge, Stephen Mould and National Adjudicator Bernadette Cullen. Selected were sopranos Emma Moore, Bryony Williams, Naomi Johns, tenor Gérard Schneider and bass baritone Morgan Pearse. 

MasterClass
The next day, the Finalists attended a MasterClass with Bernadette Cullen  and David Harper. Highlights of both the Semi-Finals Concert and the MasterClass can be found at:

http://www.aussing.org.au

http://www.youtube.com/user/MOSTgivesmore

Finals Concert – 30 years and going strong!
They will perform at the Finals Concert at the Sydney Opera House on 30 October, with the Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey (courtesy Opera Australia).

Now in its 30th year, IFAC Australian Singing Competition (IFAC-ASC) is the richest and most prestigious opera and classical singing competition in Australia, this year featuring prizes and career opportunities valued at over $220,000.

Since its inception, over 2,400 young singers have participated in the competition. Many, including sopranos Cheryl Barker, Amelia Farrugia, Lisa Gasteen AO; tenor José Carbo and bass baritone Daniel Sumegi, have gone on to pursue successful careers in Australia and overseas.

Anita Watson, the 2005 winner said, “The Australian Singing Competition
has given me the means and opportunities to do everything I possibly
can to achieve the dream and reality of becoming a world class professional
singer.”

Last year’s winner, soprano Rachel Bate from Wollongong, is currently based in Cologne, Germany, where she is studying and performing with the Kinda Opera.

The IFAC-ASC recognises and rewards emerging Australasian opera and classical singers under the age of 26. The competition evolved from the Marianne Mathy Scholarship, established through a bequest made by Marianne Mathy-Frisdane, a distinguished teacher of opera and classical singing. Valued at $30,000, ‘The Mathy’ remains the premier award in the competition.

To see and hear our next generation of opera-singing sensations, book online via the Sydney Opera House website or phone the box office on +61 2 9250 7777. 

Venue: Sydney Opera House, Opera Theatre
Dates: 30 October
Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including one 20 minute interval 
Comperes: Lyndon Terracini & Damien Beaumont
With: the Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey (courtesy Opera Australia)

Book Online Now!

2011 IFAC-ASC Finalists: Emma Moore, Bryony Williams, Naomi Johns, Gérard Schneider, Morgan Pearse.
2011 IFAC-ASC Semi-finalists: Claire Candy, Caitlin Cassidy, Olivia Cranwell, Joanna Norman and Erika Simons.

18-Oct-2011