Counter Tenor Wins 2015 IFAC Australian Singing Competition

Last night Saturday 3 October 2015, a lot of firsts occurred. For the first time Australia's premier singing competition for classical and opera singers was held in the Concert Hall, The Concourse, Chatswood and for the first time ever the major prize was won by a counter tenor, 23 year old MAXIMILIAN RIEBL from Victoria.

Five distinctively different voice types battled it out for over $200,000 in prizes & opportunities including 'The Mathy', the most prestigious award given to a young opera singer. Also from Victoria were 24 year old bass baritone Jeremy Kleeman, 23 and the only female contestant, 24 year old soprano Rebecca Gulinello. Joining them from NSW were 23 year old tenor Damian Arnold and 24 year old baritone Benson Wilson from New Zealand.

In addition to the Marianne Mathy Scholarship valued at $30,000 Maximilian also receives a chance to audition for Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Center; Fine Music 102.5 studio recording; Lili Usher Portrait Prize; a limited edition sculpture by Drago Cherina and Neustein Resume professionally produced. If a monetary value were put on these prizes it would be in excess of $50,000 but the worth of opportunities arising from such a win far exceeds that figure.

Other prizes awarded include The Guildhall School of Music & Drama Award that provides fees for one year's study plus $5,000; the ROSL Arts Scholarship provides fees for one year's study and $3,000 plus the Nelly Apt Scholarship with air fares, living expenses and fees to fund travel to attend the Meitar Opera Studio in Tel Aviv were all awarded to DAMIAN ARNOLD. The Royal Northern College of Music Award that provides fees for one year's study plus $3,000 won by REBECCA GULINELLO. The Merenda Legacy Prize with a cash grant of $8,000 to study Italian in Italy was won by JEREMY KLEEMAN. The International Vocal Arts Institute New York Scholarship was awarded to BENSON WILSON.

The Compere for the evening was ABC Classic FM's Damien Beaumont. The finalists were accompanied by the Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra conducted by Maestro Johannes Fritzsch.

Nearly 100 singers from Australia and New Zealand auditioned. The adjudicators were Linnhe Robertson, Conal Coad, Lisa Gasteen AO, Michael Halliwell, Simon Lord and Emma Matthews.

The IFAC Australian Singing Competition for opera and classical singers is Australasia's premier competition and the richest of its kind. Since 1982 more than $2.8million in prizes has been won with nearly 3,000 singers.

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