The Dame Joan Sutherland Vocal Awards has doubled its entries this year attracting 28 entrants from artists as far afield as Darwin and Western Australia,
Noosa Federation of Arts (NFA) Chairman Meg Lawrence said today. Ms Lawrence said the NFA started the Awards in 1990 and took them National in 2008 to support and encourage classical vocal artists had achieved credibility and notoriety amongst classical singers.
“This is the only Dame Joan Sutherland award in Australia and offers the highest regional financial prizes,” Ms Lawrence said.
“Over the past few years the awards have gained credibility and a reputation of the highest order.”
Ms Lawrence said first place included a prize purse of $15,000 to assist singers with study, travel, coaching and progressing their vocal career.
“It is highly sought after and attracts the highest calibre of talent,” she said.
Chairman of the Dame Joan Sutherland Awards Susan Beaver said entrants were required to perform an aria from an opera and a song from the classical repertoire both in their original language.
“The judges at the auditions were so impressed with the talent of this year’s entrants they chose eight finalists instead of six as in the past years,” Ms Beaver said.
“Each year the standard appears to be improving due to the increased number of young people taking up classical singing.”
Ms Beaver said the awards were a major stepping stone opening doors for a number of young opera singers and offering them international recognition.
She said Marusia Louwerse was a virtual unknown when she won the award in 2006 and is now one of the support acts for the talented Andre Rieu.
“Mirusia still recognises the awards in her speeches as the turning point of her future career,” Ms Beaver said.
In addition the 2007 winner Virgilio Marino has a lead role in the Australian opera production Elixir of Love which is currently being performed in Brisbane.
Ms Beaver said the finals would be held in June as part of the Noosa Long Weekend festival celebrations.
“The audience will see the eight finalists perform, the winner announced and also have a chance to vote for the ‘People’s Award’,” she said.
“This year is a special year with a second prize, the Magreta Elkins Award worth $4,000 offered in memory of Ms Elkins a former judge of the awards who died last year.”
Ms Beaver said the enthusiasm for the awards had grown over the years and the increase in the number of people from south east Queensland attending the event reflected this.
The concert to decide the winner will be held at the Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Friday June 24 at 5pm, followed by the Awards, as part of the Noosa Long Weekend celebrations.
