It
was just 20 years ago that a very young Fiona Janes took out the top prize –
the Marianne Mathy Scholarship - in the Australian Singing Competition. Now
well established on the opera and concert stages of the world, Fiona will
this year be on the other side as National Adjudicator, chairing the judging
of the 2006 Mathy Awards for classical singers under the age of 26. A past
winner as National Adjudicator is an exciting ‘first’ in the 25-year history
of this prestigious Competition.
Fiona was working in the administration of The
Australian Opera (now Opera Australia) when she first competed in the Mathy
Awards, amazing fellow-workers, none of whom knew she had ‘a voice’. Two
years after taking out the Encouragement Award, Fiona was the overall
winner. She subsequently joined the national opera company as a Young
Artist and quickly progressed to performing major roles such as Dorabella in
Così fan tutte and Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro to warm
acclaim. In 1991 she was awarded the highly respected inaugural Remy Martin
Scholarship, voted by her colleagues, and this enabled her to travel
overseas.
Fiona soon established a successful
international career with engagements at many of the major opera companies
in Europe and the UK. She has amassed an impressive and versatile
repertoire, but is perhaps best known to Australian audiences as La
Cenerentola - a role she made her own.
In concert Fiona has performed with several of
the world’s top orchestras and has appeared at international festivals
including the Edinburgh Festival. She has recorded on Naxos (Meyerbeer’s
Semiramide and Stravinsky’s Pulcinella), ABC Classics (Mozart
Bicentennial Celebration), and can be seen on video in Opera
Australia’s Così fan tutte and Don Giovanni).
Most recently in Australia Fiona has performed
the role of Adalgisa in Norma (Opera Australia and West Australian
Opera – 2004), featured in the 2005 New Year’s Eve Gala at Sydney Opera
House and is currently delighting Sydney patrons with her Mistress Quickly
in the OA season of Falstaff.
Fiona’s success will serve as a wonderful
inspiration to aspiring young singers wishing to enter this year’s
competition. The experience is valuable for all singers, as well as the
select few who will ultimately reap the more tangible rewards on offer.
Interested singers should visit the ASC
website (www.aussing.com.au)
for details and access to the 2006 Entry Form which will be available in
March.
