Edition 15 Summer 2016 FROM THE SCHOLARS’ REHEARSAL ROOM LESSONS IN MAKEUP AND STYLING OUR BEST AUDITION TIPS WELCOMING BACK OUR ALUMNI Siobhán Stagg, performing in Brisbane while touring with Roberto Alagna. Photo by Joseph Byford. CONTENTS A NOTE FROM THE PAGE 2 • A Note from the Managing Director MANAGING DIRECTOR • A Change of Cast: Thanking Our Man on a Mission quantity and quality of applicants daughter Charlotte.) scholars looms large as competition are gratifying, and once again we finalists and cast members in Olivia’s exceptional skills and depth PAGE 3 have been presented with a national every Australian professional opera of experience has sustained the pool of talented singers. company. Internationally, our alumni Zoe Drummond – Winner – 2016 Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship • Melbas Conquer Sydney Trust’s momentum during Amy’s are successfully competing and Nicholas with his patrons Elizabeth and John Wright-Smith Nicolas Tolputt - Credit: WinkiPop Media The Opera Foundation for young Australians - Photograph: David Otott While this ‘changing of the guard’ absence. As the newest member of • Season’s Greetings performing on the stages of Europe, has become the norm for our scholar the management team, the fresh North America and Asia. PAGE 4-5 cohorts, this year’s annual ritual is insights that Olivia has brought to • Professional Polish : complemented by two significant the role are some of the dividends We look forward to announcing early • Etiquette and Elegance transitions in the Trust’s ‘engine of the parental leave system. in the New Year the 2017 cohort of MELBAS CONQUER SYDNEY room’. Firstly, the leadership of our Amy has recently returned and is Melba Opera Trust scholars and to • Face First governing Council is changing, as working with Olivia to complete the rolling out the program with another • A Word from the Scholars Peter Garnick Chair Rob Logie-Smith hands the transition. In the meantime, I would year of top practitioner-mentors A national scholarship program, Melba Opera Trust scouts said that his confidence to apply for In a dream turn of events, soprano Opera, performing in Pigmalion and PAGE 6-7 baton to Roz Zalewski-Ruskin. Rob like to formally record our gratitude from Australia and overseas. for talent from across Australia to find exceptional young the scholarships initially came from scholar Zoe Drummond was cast in Coronation of Poppea respectively, took up leadership during a time of to Olivia for her outstanding Melba Opera Trust Artistic Advisor, a principal role for Opera Australia’s and Stacey Alleaume will reprise • There Is Nothing Like A Dame This edition of The Melba amplifies opera singers and repetiteurs, to offer mentoring and As this edition of The Melba is going extreme uncertainty and he passes commitment and the quality of her Sharolyn Kimmorley, who “insisted” exciting production Sydney Opera her role as Micaëla in Carmen On the scholars’ voice, and shares • Questions for Dame Kiri Te to press, the annual scholarship on to Roz a successful organisation work. Needless to say the Trust opportunities through our year-long program. We’re thrilled to that he give it a go. His admirable House – The Opera (The Eighth The Harbour with Opera Australia in training highlights from throughout Kanawa by Bronwyn Douglass cycle is nearing the top of the with a bright future. Below are Rob’s wishes Olivia well in her future share Melba scholar success – past and present – in Sydney effort resulted in major successes, Wonder). A testament to her work March and April. Melba Opera Trust the year. We hope you enjoy hearing • Questions for Dame Felicity dial. Our 2016 scholars - having reflections on his 11-year tenure. endeavors. which have been the catalyst for a ethic, and having sung once or twice will also conduct mentor program from your scholars. In closing, I over the past year. Lott by Timothy Newton completed the year’s program - number of exciting engagements in for artistic director Lyndon Terrancini blocks in the sunny state of New For the past 18 months, Olivia Giglia As Melba Opera Trust’s 2016 would like to thank and acknowledge are in the throes of auditions and Nicholas Tolputt was shocked to Leo Schofield, director of the 2017. We are thrilled for Nicholas, during her participation in the Melba South Wales in the New Year. has been performing the role of program is nearing the finish line, the growing family of Melba Opera PAGE 8-9 competitions around the world, hear his name called out not at just acclaimed Brisbane Baroque festival, and invite you to follow his progress mentor blocks, Zoe is ecstatic to be Acting General Manager while Amy it is appropriate to reflect on the Trust supporters who make all of Keep up to date on Melba scholar • Finding the Next Melba that will invariably lead to future one major competition final, but wrote a moving article about in the years to come as a Melba cast in the role of Clare Goldring – Black has been on maternity leave. success of propagating Dame this possible. and alumni activity on the Melba • Audition Tips from the opportunities. Meanwhile, the two in 2016, sweeping up the major Nicholas’ success for the Tasmanian alumnus. and was thrilled with the reception (A year ago in this column I noted Nellie’s legacy vicariously through Opera Trust Facebook page or on Melba Scholars selection process for the 2017 Peter Garnick prizes in both the IFAC Australian Times after his success in the IFAC after the opera’s late October the arrival of the newest member of our young singers. Around the Repetiteur scholar, Jonathan Wilson, our website. You’re also welcome scholars is well underway. The Singing Competition and the Sydney ASC, reminiscing about the first time premiere. Zoe is also the recipient • Baroque & Roll the ‘Melba family’, Amy and Clayton’s country, the community of Melba tried his hand as a musical director to call us for more information Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship. He is he saw him Nicholas in concert, and of the prestigious 2016 Lady Fairfax for brand new opera company, about our scholarship program, to PAGE 10 still overwhelmed about taking out the musical journey he had made New York Scholarship, offered Bare Bones Opera. In a triple bill engage our singers for your public or • Melbas at Home the top prizes of two of the most since that time in 2013. In the first through the Opera Foundation of works by Salieri and Mozart, private event, or to contribute to our significant Australian competitions three-minutes of Nicholas’ first aria Awards – an incredible achievement • Alumna Takes Home the Prize Jonathan ably conducted from endowment to make scholarships for opera singers, insisting that the three years ago, Leo recalls nudging that will see her travel to the USA the piano, an experience he called and the Melba program for opera PAGE 11 best advice he had ever been offered his companion to “give him a furtive next year. A CHANGE OF CAST: THANKING OUR MAN ON A MISSION “thrilling”. With wonderful feedback development available in perpetuity, • Letter From Abroad – was to take his glasses off before lap-level thumbs up”. Nicholas’ was for the musicians and the singers, Sydney has much to look forward to please call us on (03) 9944 2100. Alexandra Flood he goes on stage, not because it a “fine voice indeed”, and one that Jonathan’s debut has proven fruitful, in 2017 too: alumni scholars Jeremy to study music at university as he just exceptional Dean and Director of the thanks to Rob for his dedication, changes his technique, but because has since grown substantially in [email protected] PAGE 12 and he looks forward to continuing Kleeman and Morgan Balfour missed out on a scholarship, when Melba Conservatorium, recognized passion and ongoing support. it gives him confidence in the fact “power and colour”. Heralded by www.melbaoperatrust.com.au • An Evening of Opera at Roy finished as the director of music Amy Black (née McPartlan) as an We asked a few members of the that he can give it his best when he several critics and adjudicators for his development as a conductor in have been announced as leads Stowell Park at Geelong College, he recommended incredibly talented person as well organization for their thoughts on steps out to sing. his “depth of emotion”, Nicholas the coming years. in the 2017 season for Pinchgut • Supporters of the Melba that the school employ Dad. So he as being a great singer, and once Rob’s contribution: became the director of music. From we got going, we appointed her Opera Trust Amy Black: The Melba could not there, he went on to run Glee Club as General Manager, which was a • About Melba Opera Trust have hoped for a more enthusiastic performing the Gilbert and Sullivan brilliant decision. Once Amy was on and dedicated leader than Rob. comic operas at Geelong College. board we were able to engage the Throughout his time as Chair, Rob He set up the Geelong Orchestra and amazing Sharolyn Kimmorley as our SEASON’S has worked tirelessly to support Choral Society, and became a well- Artistic Advisor which meant we were and celebrate the remarkable known adjudicator of competitions, as able to establish a quality process GREETINGS young musical talent we have here Robert Logie-Smith AM well as adjudicating for the Australian for identifying talented scholars. in Australia, initially through the Music Examinations Board (AMEB). We were able to build such a strong students of Melba Conservatorium We’ve had an amazing year, Music was always in the family, and I program on two major aspects of and more recently the scholars After a decade as the used to go to all of Dad’s concerts, but Dame Nellie Melba’s philosophy.