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Gridiger, CEO of Music & Opera Singers Trust Limited is delighted to
announce this year’s Semi-Finalists in the Mathy Awards. They are:
Lucinda-Mirikata Deacon (NSW)
Soprano 20
Lauren Easton (NSW) Mezzo Soprano
22
Andrew Finden (NSW) Baritone 22
James Homann (NSW) Bass baritone 25
Milica Ilic (Qld) Soprano 22
Phoenicia Johnson (NSW) Soprano 25
Victoria Lambourn (Qld) Mezzo
Soprano 25
Michael Lampard (Tas) Baritone 20
Laurence Meikle (VIC)
Baritone 23
Duncan Rock (WA) Baritone 21
It must surely be a ‘first’ to have
sopranos outnumbered by the lower voice types and it will be interesting
to see whether the males actually manage to outnumber the females in the
Finals - a rare occurrence due to the generally later development of the
male voice and the age limit of 26 in this Competition. It certainly
raises hopes for redressing the current scarcity of good baritones on
the Australian opera scene.
After making her selections from the State
Heats, National Adjudicator Fiona Janes was surprised to learn that this
line-up even includes a married couple. Phoenicia Johnson and James
Homann are accustomed to ‘treading the boards’ together as Young Artists
with Co-opera based in Adelaide, but this time they have to compete
with each other for a place in the Finals.
The singers are required to sing lieder as
well as perform items selected from opera and oratorio and will be
accompanied by world-renowned accompanist/vocal coach David Harper at
private judging and in a public concert at 4 pm on Sunday 3 September in
the Music Workshop of Sydney Conservatorium. David alternates between
coaching or accompanying some of the world’s great singers and working
with young developing artists.
The compere will be Christine Douglas,
Artistic Director of the training company Pacific Opera and passionate
about training young singers, with youth in the performing arts further
emphasised by the guest appearance of the dynamic young chamber group
Sydney Omega Ensemble.
Tickets for the concert are
available through
City Recital Hall 02 8256 2222
or
online
www.music.usyd.edu.au @ $22 (incl
GST; booking fees may apply)
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