MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release – 1st November 2015 Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship WINNER
The Opera Foundation for young Australians (formerly Opera Foundation Australia) is pleased to announce the Winner 2015 Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship is Elizabeth Lewis, soprano from Victoria.
The winner of this prestigious scholarship was announced at the public recital with the six finalists on Sunday 1st November 2015 commencing at 4.00pm at the Verbrugghen Hall of Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Elizabeth will receive $43,000 to study with internationally acclaimed vocal, language and movement coaches in New York.
“Elizabeth’s performance this afternoon was truly outstanding, together with all our Finalists making the decision very difficult for our Adjudicators. Elizabeth will greatly benefit from the exclusive access to prestigious international learning opportunities that this Scholarship offers.
The Opera Foundation for young Australians continues to uniquely open doors to the world opera for all voice types, conductors, designers, directors and repetiteurs. We continue to proudly continue the work of the Foundation that was established by my mother over fifty years ago. Our impressive alumni continues to grow each year and we are excited to have four previous Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship Winners performing principal roles in Opera Australia’s 2016 season” says Anna Cleary, Chair of The Opera Foundation for young Australians and Lady Fairfax’s daughter.
Bradley Daley, 2015 Head Adjudicator and member of the Foundation’s Music Advisory Council says: “I have so much respect for these brave young artists, who have each worked extremely hard. Of course there can be only one winner, but I would be proud to share the stage with any of these young singers and future story tellers.”
About Elizabeth Lewis
In 2013 Elizabeth became a member of the Opera Q Studio and in 2014 joined Victorian Opera as one of their Developing Artists. Roles for Victorian Opera include Mother and Witch- Hansel und Gretel, Adalgisa (Cover)-Norma and Mrs Lovett and Beggar Woman (Covers)- Sweeney Todd. Other roles in include Dido (Brisbane Baroque Festival) and Sorceress (Bangalow Festival) – Dido and Aeneas and Emilia (Cover) – Otello (Opera Q). Elizabeth has won many scholarships and competitions including the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School Scholarship 2011 and 2012, the More Than Opera Development Grant 2015 and the 2015 Sydney Opera House Opera Award.
The sponsor of this Award is Lady Fairfax AC OBE. The Foundation receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of philanthropic individuals & foundations to support other awards, scholarships & special initiatives.
Also announced tonight were the winners of the 2015 Vienna State Opera Award for a stage experienced opera singer – soprano Kathryn Radcliffe from Melbourne, 2015 Berlin New Music Opera Award winner Sydney- based Director Constantine Costi and the 2015 Dalwood-Wylie American Institute of Musical Studies Award Winner – tenor Matthew Reardon from Sydney.
The Opera Foundation for young Australians was founded in 1963 by Lady Fairfax and has been in operation for over 50 years. The Opera Foundation for young Australians provides international Awards & Scholarships to renowned opera houses & institutions in the world to young Australian artists. The Awards and Scholarships offered by The Opera Foundation for young Australians have provided the springboard for launching the successful international careers of many Australian opera singers for more than 50 years. Since 1963 the Foundation has provided over $5 million in funding and support and offered over 300 Awards and Scholarships.