Semi-Finalists Announced

The Mietta Foundation in association with the Melbourne International Arts Festival is pleased to announce the six semi-finalists for this year's Mietta Art Song Award. They are Robert Stewart, a lyric baritone from Essendon [Vic], Hui Juan [Sharon] Zhai, soprano from Cammeray [NSW], Stuart Haycock, tenor from Noranda [WA], Benjamin Martin, tenor from Ascot Vale [Vic], Julia Malczewski, soprano from Erskineville [NSW] and Helen Barnett, soprano from Woostonecraft [NSW].

The Mietta Song Recital Award provides an extraordinary range of opportunities for the winning singer, including overseas study, travel awards and training opportunities, nationally and internationally. Valued at over $20,000, some of the prizes include best pianist [$5000], an encouragement award, an audience choice award and participation prizes for finalists and semi-finalists.

Masterclasses for the six semi-finalists will be held on the 13th & 14th October [see details below]. The singing competition semi-finals for which the singers perform a short program of art song of up to 20 mins is on the 16th Oct, from which four finalists will be chosen to compete and perform a song recital program of up to 30 mins each on 17th Oct.

The Mietta Song Recital Award is named in celebration of one of Australia's most influential figures in arts and hospitality, Mietta O'Donnell who was co-founder and driving force of the national art song competition from its inception in 1995 until her death in January 2001.

Patrons of the Awards are Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, Yvonne Kenny AM, Mietta's mother, Maria O'Donnell and Richard Bonynge AO CBE.

Dates/Times:

Masterclasses

Admission by donation

• Wed 13th Oct at 10.30 Denise Shepherd [French language workshop]
  ANAM, Sth Melbourne Town Hall
• Wed 13th Oct at 2.30pm - Marilyn Richardson [soprano]
  VCA, Federation Hall, Grant St, Southbank
• Thurs 14th Oct at10.30am - Stephen McIntyre [pianist]
  VCA, Federation Hall, Grant St, Southbank
• Thurs 14th Oct at 2pm - Graham Pushee [counter tenor]
  VCA, Federation Hall, Grant St, Southbank

Semi-finals

Admission is free. Doors open at 11.30am, Seating is unreserved.

Sat 16th October at 12noon at VCA, Federation Hall, Grant St, Southbank

Finals

Admission by donation. Doors open at 1.30pm, Seating is unreserved.

Sun 17th October at 2pm at VCA, Federation Hall, Grant St, Southbank

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