Adelaide Cabaret Festival Announces 2016 Nathaniel O'Brien Class of Cabaret Scholarship Winners

Adelaide Festival Centre's Adelaide Cabaret Festival is proud to announce Reilly Muller of Mount Gambier and Zara Nicholson of Loxton as the 2016 winners of the Nathaniel O'Brien Class of Cabaret Scholarship. The inaugural scholarship gives the opportunity for Reilly and Zara to perform in their home region in this year's Adelaide Cabaret Festival Roadshow. In addition to receiving express entry into the 2017 Class of Cabaret program, up to $5,000 in travel and accommodation assistance and private vocal tuition from a leading Adelaide voice teacher.

The Nathaniel O'Brien Class of Cabaret Scholarship was named after Nathaniel O'Brien, a Class of Cabaret participant in 2013 and Class of Cabaret Graduate in 2014, who died tragically in 2015. The scholarship aims to honour Nathaniel while providing development opportunities for young singers from regional South Australia.

Reilly Muller from Mount Gambier is a young triple threat who has participated in Eisteddfods and Showcases regionally, adding to her long resume of choirs and concerts. She says "I have always enjoyed entertaining people... winning this scholarship would give me access to experiences that would be, at best difficult to obtain in Mount Gambier due to the distance and the costs".

Zara Nicholson from Loxton who performed as 'Annie' in the Riverland Musical Society's 2014 production of Annie, as well as lead roles in Adams Family and Beauty and the Beast in 2015 and 2016, is another rising young talent who says "I am at a stage where I have tapped into what the Riverland offers and am seeking more. Musical Theatre is my passion and I am hoping to make it my career".

Each year the Nathaniel O'Brien Class of Cabaret Scholarship will give students in year 10 or 11, the opportunity to perform at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Roadshow in their home region as well as receiving express entry into the following year's Adelaide Cabaret Festival Class of Cabaret program.

Tickets to see the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Roadshow, which is presented in conjunction with Country Arts SA, are still available for Mount Gambier and Renmark. Alongside Reilly and Zara who will be performing in their respective regions, will be a star-studded line-up including multi-award winning composer, musical director and performer John Thorn, spectacular Cabaret artists; Libby O'Donovan and Michael Griffiths, Irish comedian Eddie Bannon and musical theatre's Queenie Van de Zandt. Join us for two nights of glorious Cabaret and don't miss out on the Renmark Open Masterclass, a free event designed for anyone aged 15+ who loves singing, performance and Cabaret. To register for the workshop, email cabaret@adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival Roadshow

5 May - Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mount Gambier

7 May - Chaffey Theatre, Renmark

Further information on the Nathaniel O'Brien Class of Cabaret Scholarship and Adelaide Cabaret Festival including the Roadshow and Class of Cabaret is available at www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au.

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