Entry Information

Repertoire Requirements

Entrants must prepare three contrasting arias from three different operas. The arias must be from at least two musical periods and in at least two languages:

* One aria from before Mozart's death

* One aria from after Mozart's death - 1791

* The remaining aria may be from any period

Repertoire presented in all stages must be memorised and performed with acoustic piano accompaniment. Arias can be chosen from standardised operatic literature as currently performed in major opera houses around the world, including Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Verismo, Modern, Opera Comique and Operetta.

Heats: A video recording of one aria of own choice from your chosen three arias. This must be a recorded performance made in 2025, filmed in a single take and without edit. The video recording and supporting documentation must be uploaded to the Sydney Eisteddfod Entrant Portal by 4.00 PM on Monday, 28 April 2025.

Semi - Final: Monday, 26 May 2025 at 4:30 PM at Opera Australia, Fairfax Studio. Twelve entrants will be selected to give a live performance of the remaining two arias - not the aria performed in the Heat. Semi-Finalists are responsible for engaging their own accompanist.

Final: Saturday, 28 June at Sydney Conservatorium, West Recital Hall. Five Finalists and two Reserve Finalists will be selected to present a live performance of two of their previously sung arias, both with piano accompaniment. Finalists must be available for a rehearsal with their private accompanist on the day of the Final.

Entrants are responsible for engaging their own accomapanist for both the Semi-Final and Final.

Adjudicators

Dr Simon Lobelson

Born in Sydney of Egyptian parents and brought up in Brussels, Dr. Simon Lobelson has enjoyed a distinguished career that has spanned 4 continents and 95 operatic roles from the baroque to the newly composed, high respect as a pedagogue and superlative press reviews, and has established himself as one of the most versatile baritones of his generation. Since graduating with first-class honours from Sydney University and the Royal College of Music with distinction, Simon has worked extensively as a soloist in Australia, the Middle East, Asia, the UK and Europe, with companies such as The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, English National Opera, Garsington Opera, Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney Chamber Opera, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Australian Haydn Ensemble, English Chamber Orchestra, Israel Camerata, ASKO-Schönberg Ensemble and the Lucerne Festival, under such conductors as Pierre Boulez, Simon Halsey, Charles Dutoit, Paul McCreesh, Reinbert De Leeuw and Richard Bonynge, and recorded for Chandos, Toccata and ABC Classics. Roles have included Amfortas, Escamillo, Rigoletto, Alberich, Nick Shadow, Marcello, Ford, Germont, Figaro, Michele and Don Alfonso. A champion of contemporary music, and creator of copious world premiere operatic roles, his performances in Metamorphosis for Opera Australia attracted outstanding press reviews and a Helpmann Award nomination. His research specialises in contemporary opera and its associated vocalism, and he was invited to present his research at the 10th International Congress of Vocal Teachers in Vienna, as well as for the Musicological Society of Australia. Simon is also a full-time lecturer in voice and opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, adjudicator for the 2024 and 2025 Australian Singing Competition and the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition, has given numerous masterclasses in both Australia and China and is fluent in almost four European languages. He conducted the world premiere of The Lullaby in 2024 and conducts Orphée aux enfers this year for Con Opera at NIDA. As an educator he is known and respected for his erudite, urbane, direct, decisive and critically constructive teaching style.

Phoebe-Celeste Humphreys

Area of Specialty:
Singing

Alumni:
2000-2018

Phoebe Humphreys is a Sydney-based professional classical singer, vocal teacher, vocal coach, and national adjudicator. She holds a Master of Vocal Performance from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. During her time abroad, Phoebe was a Young Artist with both Dutch National Opera and Mid Wales Opera. She has worked with Grange Park Opera, Swinsian Ensemble and was Soloist for London Symphony Orchestra at Milton Court. Phoebe’s role highlights include Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), Pamina (The Magic Flute), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), The Governess (The Turn of the Screw) and Marzelline (Fidelio). Since 2014, Phoebe has worked with Opera Australia as a member of the performing company. Phoebe has been awarded over 150 vocal awards, leading to professional engagements for both stage roles and concerts throughout Australia and Europe. Award highlights include Winner of the prestigious Dame Joan Sutherland Award presented by Maestro Richard Bonynge and Winner of The Sydney International Song Prize also selected by Maestro Richard Bonynge. Phoebe was the recipient of the Elizabeth Todd Scholarship, the Tait Memorial Scholarship, the Opera & Arts Song Prize and was Finalist in The Opera Foundation’s New York Scholarship. Phoebe continues to exceed in professional skill both on and off stage and is excited to bring her twenty years’ experience to inspire and collaborate with the future generation of singers.

Dr David Greco

“One of the foremost singers of his generation” (Limelight 2002), ARIA Award-nominated baritone David Greco is internationally regarded for his recordings of Schubert and Bach. He has sung on some of the finest stages across Europe and appeared in celebrated opera festivals including Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. In 2012 he became the first Australian to be appointed a position with the Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican, Rome. Most recently David received acclaim for his interpretation of Britten’s War Requiem with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, followed soon after by Verdi’s Requiem in the Sydney Opera House with Sydney Philharmonia. In 2020 David received his PhD in 19th century Historical Voice entitled “Waking the Dead Diva: Recovering the Expressive Sound World of Forgotten 19th Century Singers” which led to the first Australian recordings of Schubert’s complete song cycles Winterreise and Die schöne Müllerin, the latter disk receiving an ARIA nomination for Best Classical Album. His recording of Schubert’s Schwanengesang is due for release with ABC Classic in Autumn, 2025. Recent performances included a recital of Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin with acclaimed early keyboardist Chad Kelly at Melbourne Recital Centre, Durufle’s Requiem with Sydney Symphony and Messiah with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and with Dutch-based ensemble Luthers Bach Ensemble in the Netherlands. 2025 highlights include the role of Papageno in The Magic Flute with State Opera South Australia, Mozart Mass in C-Minor with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In April he will tour with acclaimed Australian Haydn Ensemble in the orchestrated songs of Schubert. David is faculty member of both Sydney Conservatorium of Music & Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Vocal Departments. www.davidgreco.info

Dr Francis Greep (Head Adjudicator)

Francis Greep is a highly sought-after vocal coach, recitalist, music director, and chorus master. He has worked extensively with Opera Australia and held key positions at West Australian Opera and Houston Grand Opera. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of The Song Company, Australia’s national vocal ensemble. Francis rejoined Opera Australia last year as Head of Young Artists, where he is leading the company’s revamped artist development program. Internationally recognised for his expertise in preparing singers across classical styles, he brings a deep understanding of vocal production, languages, repertoire, and performance psychology. He holds postgraduate degrees in collaborative piano and opera from the University of Cincinnati, as well as a PhD from the University of Melbourne, where his groundbreaking research explores the role of the vocal coach in the development of emerging singers.

Important Notes

All entrants are to submit a video recording for the heats via the Sydney Eisteddfod Entrant Portal. Please ensure you have all required supporting documentation ready for upload at the time of submitting your application. The video submission and supporting documentation must be uploaded to the Sydney Eisteddfod Entrant Portal by 4.00 PM on Monday, 28 April 2025.

Entrant’s video submission must be a YouTube or Vimeo link. Please clearly indicate the work’s title and composer, along with the name of the entrant’s first and last in the title and/or description box ( eg. Emily Jones_Il mio Tesoro_Mozart )

Supporting documentation requirements:

* A 150-word biography

* A short (maximum 300-word) statement outlining your current and proposed studies, and how the Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship might help you

* A publicity picture in colour as a JPEG file - in high resolution (minimum 2M.B.)

* Titles of all three arias - name of opera - name of composer

Email: [email protected] if you have any questions relating to this submission method.

Changes to repertoire cannot be made any later than the fortnight leading up to the Semi-Final. Entrants will be notified if their repertoire is considered unsuitable for the later rounds.

No Official Accompanist provided for the Semi-Final.

Entrants should familiarise themselves with the Opera Scholarship Event Details, and schedule.

Conditions

1. Previous winners not eligible.

2. Event is open to any singer who is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand. ~ Residency and proof of age documents will be cited upon progression to the Semi-Final. This can include a Birth Certificate, an Australian or New Zealand passport, or a permanent resident stamp. A driver's licence or proof of age card is not acceptable.

3. Adjudicator reports will be written for the heats only. No marks will be given on these reports.

4. Arias are to be no longer than ten minutes each including recitative (if any). Cuts may be made if necessary. Long instrumental tuttis or interludes should be curtailed.

5. All arias must be sung in the original key and language set by the composer, and performed from memory with acoustic piano accompaniment.

6. No music scores required for upload.

7. Singers chosen for the Semi-Finals will be notified. Five finalists and two Reserve Finalists will be selected for the Final.

8. No official accompanist is provided for the Semi-Final or Final.

9. The awarding of the first and second place scholarships are at the discretion of the adjudicators and are given on the understanding that the winners will undertake study for the operatic stage, including vocal tuition/coaching, languages and stagecraft - domestically and/or internationally.

10. The scholarship recipients are required to submit a detailed study plan to Sydney Eisteddfod, after which payment of the Scholarship will be made progressively upon production of written reports from teachers or institutions. The scholarship must be taken up within two years from the date of winning and completed within two years thereafter.

11. The Winner and Finalists must be reasonably available for media interviews and performance engagements. Sydney Eisteddfod will endeavour to continue to provide performance opportunities to alumni as a way of staying connected and nurturing the creative practices of all.

12. Please refer to the Classical Singing Rules & Conditions of Entry.

Prizes

Winner: Sydney Eisteddfod John Lamble Foundation Scholarship - Total Prize: $43,000 ($3,000 cash plus a $40,000 scholarship to undertake overseas study for the operatic stage, including vocal tuition/coaching, languages and stagecraft. Paid in four equal installments, Inclusive of travel/ airfare costs).

2nd Place: Supported by the Sydney Eisteddfod Jubilee Fund - Total Prize: $18,000 ($3,000 cash plus a $15,000 Scholarship paid in two equal instalments).

Finalists: Sponsored by The Estate of the late Miss Paula Clarkstone OAM & The Leslie Andrews Memorial Awards - $1,000 each (excluding place-getters).

Age limit for entrants is 35 years and under at 31 December 2025. Finalists must be Australian or New Zealand permanent residents. Previous winners are not eligible.