The main emphasis of the awards is to enable recipients to pursue overseas study and to assist in the further development of language, voice and music skills in the context of the global operatic and classical singing industry.
Entrants must have performed at least two principal roles with a recognised professional opera company since January 2018 (this timeframe has been extended by two years for this year only to account for disruptions caused by Covid-19).
An adjudication panel determines the winner at a private session, where each entrant is required to perform and be interviewed about their proposed singing activities and/or study plan.
2023 Rules & Conditions
In 2023, entries in the Opera Awards will be accepted online.
Entrants will be assessed in a private session in Sydney on Wednesday 29 March.
Applicants must fit certain criteria to be eligible for the Opera Awards.
To be eligible for the Opera Awards, a singer must: (i) be an Australian citizen or resident (ii) have sung at least 2 principal roles with a recognised professional opera company since January 2018 and provide documentation confirming this. There is no age limit.
RULES & CONDITIONS
Entry
Guidelines
- Applicants are required to submit a completed Entry Form and supporting documentation.
- Entries must be submitted online.
- It is a condition of the Awards that all broadcast and television rights of your performances in any stage of the competition are freely available to MOST.
Entry Form
- The Entry Form requires a competitor to provide information, including:
- Name, address and contact details;
- Social media contacts (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Tumblr, etc.);
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Study details;
- A complete and clearly written proposal and evaluation, with detailed budget, of the study/singing activity for which funding is required (noting that the majority of the funds must be used overseas);
- Performance history;
- High resolution headshot/photograph (2Mb or larger);
- Proof of age, citizenship or residency;
- Completed Repertoire Form;
- Consent & declaration; and
- Payment.
Entry Fee
Fees
- A non-refundable entry fee of AUD $130 applies.
- The Entry Fee is payable through PayPal or EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer).
Dates
2023 Dates
- Dates at any stage will not be altered to meet the needs of individual Applicants.
- MOST® reserves the right to change the dates of all stages of the competition. All details may be subject to change without notice.
- At time of publication, the 2023 Opera Awards dates are as follows:
- Entries Open - 30 November 2022
- Entries Close - 21 February 2023
- Adjudication Day - 29 March 2023
Repertoire guidelines
Repertoire
- Entrants are required to prepare four (4) arias which must be sung in the original language and must include at least two different languages.
- A legible, bound copy of the music is to be provided to the adjudication panel on the day.
Accompaniment
Accompanist
- Competitors who progress to the Finals must engage an accompanist at their own expense.
Adjudication
General Information
- The Adjudication Panel will comprise Dr Di Bresciani (Chair of the Adjudication Panel), Cheryl Barker AO, Jose Carbo and Simon Kenway.
- Judging of the entrants will be conducted privately in Sydney on Wednesday 29 March 2023.
Travel Expenses & Insurance
Travel & Accomodation
- Any travel undertaken for any stage of the Competition will be at the Competitor’s expense.
- No local travel expenses such as taxis or public transport are provided at any stage of the competition.
- MOST® shall not have any responsibility for Competitors’ loss and/or damage during the Competition and competitors should purchase their own insurance where relevant.
- Competitors are responsible for their own health and injury insurance, as well as loss or damage of the instrument or luggage in case of accident, fire or theft during travel.
Prizes & Opportunities
Prize Conditions
- The winner is required to give 2 recitals in Melbourne for our principal sponsor YMF Australia at a mutually acceptable time.
- The winner will also be invited to perform at the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition’s Finals Concert in Sydney on 31 August 2023 with the Opera Australia Orchestra (and if accepted will be required to attend the Piano Rehearsal, Sitzprobe, and General Rehearsal).
- A condition of the YMFA Award is that it is to be used predominantly for overseas study and that the funds will be distributed in a series of payments over two years.
- A number of prizes & opportunities may be awarded to competitors at the discretion of the Adjudicators.
Performance Rights
- MOST® has the right to video, film, record or photograph and retain all rounds of the Competition for archival or promotional purposes (“the Material”).
- MOST® has the right to retain this Material on websites or any other media without fee and any personal information relating to the Competition.
- Broadcast, media and other digital rights remain with MOST®.
- MOST® has the right to distribute the Material in any medium (including without limitation YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr), in whole or in part for an unlimited period, without remuneration, for the purpose of promoting the Opera Awards or MOST®.
- MOST® has permission to use the Material in any way that may not otherwise infringe a Competitor’s moral right pursuant to the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth), including but not limited to, an Entrant’s moral rights associated with their performances (submitted digitally or recorded by the Competition) when used for any promotion or publicity of the Competition or MOST® in any media without limitation for an unlimited period.
- All approaches to the media must be made through and with the approval of MOST.
- Competitors and recipients of Awards will be required to be available for promotional or media interviews/calls by arrangement.
