Welcoming the audience and opening the evening was a warm address from IOFA Chairman Joseph Rizk, who highlighted how, since its founding in 2007, the IOFA has supported the training and careers of emerging artists through scholarships, masterclasses and collaborations with leading international opera institutions.
Eight finalists, chosen from a large pool of aspiring singers during earlier auditions, took turns performing on stage accompanied on piano by the acclaimed Glenn Amer. Each finalist presented two arias of their choice, ranging from baroque bel canto to the dramatic works of Verdi and Puccini.
The judging panel, chaired by Lyndon Terracini and featuring Michael Halliwell and Glenn Winslade, evaluated the young artists based on technical precision, interpretive personality and their ability to engage the audience. The public also had a say through a People’s Choice vote via a dedicated QR code.
At the end of the evening, the winners were announced: baritone Andrew Williams claimed the first prize of $15,000, tenor Thomas Strong took home the second prize of $7500 and the People’s Choice Award went to soprano Esther Song, who won over the audience with her captivating performance. In addition to monetary prizes, the three winners will also participate in international masterclasses and recitals as part of the Overseas Tour Program, marking an important step in their professional journeys.
Among the evening’s most applauded moments were Robert Shlemon Adam’s dazzling baroque performance; Jake Bigwood’s warm timbre in La calunnia from Il barbiere di Siviglia; Eleanor Greenwood’s dramatic intensity in Vissi d’arte from Tosca; Imogen Faith Malfitano’s jazz-opera crossover in Glitter and Be Gay from Candide and Bronwyn Douglass’s virtuosic rendition of Morrò, ma prima in grazia from Un ballo in maschera.
The event was made possible thanks to the invaluable support of sponsors and donors, including Arab Bank Australia as official sponsor, Opera Australia among the key donors and Charles & Christa Billich and the NIVON Group as supporters.
With the awards ceremony drawing the evening to a close, the IOFA is already looking ahead as preparations are underway for the ninth edition of Stars of Tomorrow, reaffirming the Foundation’s mission to make Sydney an international hub for the future stars of Italian opera.
