The Australian Singing Competition’s Knight in Shining Armour

 Having made his name on the opera stages of the world singing heroic roles, acclaimed tenor Glenn Winslade became a real-life hero to the Australian Singing Competition.

 Health problems precluded air travel for the original National Adjudicator of the 2005 Mathy Awards, Amanda Thane-Winslade, forcing her to withdraw, but she immediately produced a first class replacement in husband Glenn.  Stepping into the role at 2 days’ notice, he conducted Heats in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth assisted by local adjudicators.

 Early in his career Glenn sang alongside Amanda when they were both principal artists with The Australian Opera (now Opera Australia) before they moved overseas.  Glenn had been particularly admired for his singing of Mozart before expanding not only his performance sphere  to the international stage but, in time, his repertoire to the heavier dramatic roles for which he is in much demand.  Last heard in Sydney in the 2001 Opera Australia summer season when he thrilled audiences with his singing in Lohengrin, Glenn will return to perform with the national company the roles of Laca in Jenufa and Tito in La Clemenza di Tito in 2006.   Future plans also include performances in Rome (Lohengrin), Hamburg (Florestan) and Tokyo (Siegmund).

It is fortunate indeed that Mr Winslade plans to spend the remainder of this year in Australia and is able to undertake the responsibility of guiding the adjudication throughout the stages of the Competition.  He has advised Roland Gridiger, Trustee of the Australian Singing Competition, that the following talented young people were successful in the Heats and now move on to the Semi-Finals:

Lucinda-Mirikata Deacon                              20              Soprano              NSW

Samual Dundas                                               22              Bass Baritone     VIC  

Christopher Hillier                                          23               Baritone              NSW

James Homann                                               24              Baritone              NSW

Mylinda Joyce                                                  25              Soprano              VIC

Abraham Singer                                              22              Baritone              NSW

Anita Watson                                                   24              Soprano              NSW

Derek Welton                                                   22              Baritone              VIC

Laura Wowk                                                     22              Soprano               WA

Carmen Young                                                16              Soprano               TAS

The singers will present a concert of opera, oratorio and lieder at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the Music Workshop at 4 pm on Sunday 11 September 2005.   In his listening and judging role, Glenn will doubtless be reminiscing about his own days as a student in the Opera School, reflecting on the qualities that have best aided him in developing his own career.

Bookings for the concert may be made through Angel Place Recital Hall 02 8256 2222 or www.music.usyd.edu.au

For further information please contact: The Australian Singing Competition 02 9231 4293 or check the website on www.aussing.com.au