Opera Awards (Australia)


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 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, the Royal Over-Seas League and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust.

History

In 1986/87, the Music & Opera Singers Trust 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 The Royal Over-Seas League Music Bursary, the Britten-Pears Young Artists Programme, the Glyndebourne Festival Prize, and the 4MBS Classic FM Award.
The recipient of the Opera Awards is acknowledged and invited to perform at the Finals Concert of the Australian Singing Competition.

Recipients

YearOpera Awards recipientCategoryAdjudicators
1986Francesco FabrisbaritoneJenifer Eddy
1987Helen AdamssopranoElizabeth Fretwell
1988Stephen IbbotsentenorRonald Maconaghie, Margreta Elkins
1989Lucas de JongbaritoneMargreta Elkins
1990Akiko NakajimasopranoJoseph Ward
1991not awarded
1992Elisa WilsonsopranoJoseph Ward
1993Douglas McNicholbaritoneJoseph Ward
1994Fiona CampbellsopranoStephen Barlow
1995Ingrid SilveussopranoMyer Fredman
1996Amelia FarrugiasopranoMyer Fredman
1997Donna-Marie DunlopsopranoMyer Fredman
1998Jamie AllentenorMyer Fredman
1999Adrian McEnierytenorRoderick Brydon
2000Han LimbaritoneAndrew Greene
2001Nicole YoulsopranoMyer Fredman
2002Hyeseoung KwonsopranoVladimir Kamirsky
2003not held
2004José CarbóbaritoneRichard Bonynge
2005Tamsyn Stock-StaffordsopranoPatrick Thomas
2006Amy WilkinsonsopranoImre Palló
2007James HomannbaritoneVladimir Kamirsky
2008Shane LowrencevbassRichard Bonynge
2009Emma PearsonsopranoJonathan Darlington
2010Lorina GoresopranoRichard Bonynge
2011Zara BarrettsopranoAndrea Molino
2012Nicole CarsopranoBrian Castles-Onion
2014Jonathan AbernethytenorGreg Hocking
2017Adrian Tamburinibass-baritoneSimon Kenway
2019Anna Dowsleymezzo-sopranoBenjamin Northey
2023Eleanor GreenwoodsopranoDr Di Bresciani OAM