MORE THAN a VOICE PREPARING: the KEY to SUCCESS COAST to COAST in the USA Contents Note from the Chief Executive Officer
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Edition 20 Winter 2019 MORE THAN A VOICE PREPARING: THE KEY TO SUCCESS COAST TO COAST IN THE USA Contents Note from the Chief Executive Officer Page 2 It is with great pleasure that Another focus has been the nearly a decade of service. We Note from the CEO I introduce our 2019 Winter redevelopment of our Performance remain grateful and wish him every Program. Following a recent review, success in his next appointment Singer of the world magazine. we have adopted a new approach, with Victorian Opera. At Melba Opera Page 3 Within its pages there are updates which you can read about in more Trust, we are fond of saying ‘once a Preparing: the key to success from our remarkable alumni who detail on Page 4. Melba, always a Melba’, and I have no doubt readers can look forward A proud legacy at the continue to go from strength to In other news, I’m pleased to report to Peter’s continuing involvement as Melba village strength in all corners of the world. that our search for a new Melba We also take a moment to celebrate one of our strongest ambassadors. Page 4 and 5 home has been successful and their achievements off the stage. from June you will be able to visit In September we will be sharing our Meet the 2019 Scholars So much of the Melba approach us in the heart of Melbourne’s arts special ten-year anniversary edition Peak performance involves nurturing the personal precinct at 77 Southbank Boulevard. of The Melba magazine, which will and professional development of Page 6 and 7 We’re looking forward to sharing capture the journey of this dynamic our scholars, which often manifest our new space with our friends at organisation over the last decade. Alumni update: in areas outside the performance Orchestra Victoria, Musica Viva and While we are taking a moment to Coast to coast in the USA realm. Amy Black Short Black Opera. reflect and celebrate this milestone, Letter from Abroad: It’s been a particularly busy start our eyes remain fixed on the future Paull-Anthony Keightley I also take a moment to and we are working on several to the year with newly appointed acknowledge my colleague Peter Page 8 Artistic Manager Sharolyn exciting projects to ensure we three scheduled in the coming Garnick who, after nine years of continue to provide the best support More than a voice Kimmorley AM launching the months. As ever, the program offers exceptional commitment and program in late January, a month to Australia’s most promising young Page 9 a breadth of training that addresses leadership, will be finishing with us opera singers and repetiteurs. earlier than in previous years. key aspects of business, language, at the end of May. Over his tenure An Autumn Soirée in Sydney Traditionally our artists are industry networks and artistic as Managing Director and, more In the meantime, I would like to Page 10 preparing for international auditions development. You will read that we recently, Director of Fundraising & sincerely thank you, our community, or commencing studies abroad for your continued involvement. We A gateway to the greats of the past have been fortunate to have re- Finance, Peter helped pave the way by September/October and so by rely entirely on private philanthropic Did you hear… engaged several of our world-class for this remarkable program and the commencing in January we can mentors and, later in the year, we organisation that underpins it. Peter support and remain enormously Listen out for… maximise their preparation within are looking forward to welcoming joined Melba when our intention was grateful for the generosity of our the Melba program. donors who make it all possible. Page 11 renowned vocal coach Linnhe more of a promise. Now, the legacy Turning points: Roberto Barbaro Already, artists have undertaken four Robertson and conductor Asher he leaves speaks to the enormous Please enjoy the 20th edition of intensive Mentor Blocks with another Fisch for the first time. contribution that he has made after The Melba. Page 12 A giant challenge Singer of the world Soprano Lauren Fagan are eligible for the Audience Prize, Opera Holland Park last year, when sees it as the most famous bringing a $4,500 (AUD) prize and a she was described by The Guardian competition for launching trophy. as “one of today’s finest young sopranos”. Previously she was a “When we arrive in Cardiff in June, the careers of young singers: member of the Royal Opera House’s the schedule will be very intense as it is the BBC Cardiff Singer renowned Jette Parker Young Artists we have many media appearances, of the World competition Programme and is a graduate of interviews, piano rehearsals, London’s Guildhall School of Music and Lauren, a Melba Opera camera rehearsals, orchestral Trust alumna and a rising and Drama. She was awarded the rehearsals,” Lauren says. “I know Dame Nellie Melba Scholarship international star, is the only these two months leading up to the Cover image with Melba Opera Trust in 2011 Australian among twenty competition are crucial and I need to and 2012, and recently received Cleo Lee-McGowan and Stephen Marsh be as prepared as possible as there — performing at Meet the Scholars 2018, finalists for 2019. the prestigious Dame Heather Begg will be little chance for that when I Lauren Fagan as Alcina for Internationale Deakin Edge, Federation Square. Lauren says she has so far Memorial Award. Händel-Festspiele, 2019. Photography: David Ng get to Cardiff. I will sing my aria heat Photography: © Felix Grünschloß submitted her aria and song on the 16th of June and song heat Entering the Singer of the World programs. “And very importantly 17th of June.” competition – which this year Melba Opera Trust Board I have found the gowns I will received about 500 entries – first and a role she hopes to return to. Roz Zalewski-Ruskin, Chair wear,” she says. “The beauty of Nominated as best Young Singer of involved sending judges a video Forum Opera published a glowing Kate Shelmerdine, Deputy Chair this competition is we all have the the year in 2018’s International Opera of two arias and two songs. This review, saying “her laments, and in Dmitry Danilovich,Treasurer Awards, Lauren says the Singer of the Chris Arnold AM chance not only to sing in the aria was narrowed down to about 60 particular the ‘Mi restano le lagrime’, Kristine Neill section (with orchestra) but there is World competition is high pressure, videos. A panel including Dame Kiri are literally gilded in gold, her voice Peter Reilly also a song section. I am competing as a huge component is the “live” Te Kanawa then reduced the list to can display pain incarnate, while Melba Opera Trust for the Song Prize with my friend, element, given it is broadcast on forty, who were heard live. “I was also asserting powerful nobility and ABN 96 424 419 725 Welsh pianist Jâms Coleman.” radio and TV and streamed around lucky enough to be heard in London, a superb helplessness”. the world. “But the good news is T: (03) 9944 2100 Fifteen countries are represented in which is where I live,” Lauren says. Lauren is currently preparing for her www.melbaoperatrust.com.au finally my friends and family back in this year’s competition. The Song The list was further whittled to first Mimì (La bohème) for Opera Design by Kerry Aker Australia will be able to hear me sing Prize, which finalists may choose to twenty finalists. North. “I will then be making debuts with orchestra!” she says. Copy and editing by Andrew Stephens, enter, comes with a $18,500 (AUD) at Opéra National de Bordeaux and Hannah Dahlenburg, Amy Black and Lauren, who recently finished her Bruce Raggatt. cash prize and a concert recital at This new success follows Lauren’s role as Alcina in Karlsruhe, says Bergen National Opera and, in future London’s Wigmore Hall. All finalists role debut as Violetta for the UK’s it was a wonderful experience seasons, returning to Covent Garden.” If you would prefer not to receive this publication, please contact Melba Opera Trust. About Melba Opera Trust Melba Opera Trust is Australia’s premier scholarship program for promising young opera singers and repetiteurs. Driven by Dame Nellie Melba’s conviction ‘a beautiful voice is not enough’, the program nurtures artistic development alongside business training, mentoring and performance experience. This newsletter is printed on Sovereign Offset derived from well-managed forests We are the next step for artists preparing to become professionals on the world stage. and other controlled sources certified against Forest Stewardship Council ® standards, a non-profit organisation devoted to Inspiring Excellence – Realising Potential – Forging Careers encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. Page 2 The Melba – Magazine of Melba Opera Trust Preparing: the key to success “I say to them, this kind of What does a young singer — need to do to prepare for the Conductor Johannes Fritzsch with preparation will empower you, it will Cleo Lee-McGowan and Adam McMillan. first day of rehearsals for a make you confident as a performer. Photography: David Ng If you are well prepared, you will forthcoming engagement? enjoy the performance – and if they Imagine – it’s your first music do, we the audience will enjoy the call with a conductor for your first performance more.” professional contract with an opera Melba scholar Cleo Lee-McGowan company. Are you prepared? says she was thrilled to be working To help answer the question, with Maestro Fritzsch again, having enter renowned German-born done so in 2017.