Egyptian Soprano Fatma Named Winner of 8th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition

Egyptian Soprano, Fatma Said was announced winner of the 8th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition at the National Concert Hall last night. The Egyptian native competed against 47 finalists over the past week in Dublin, and last night she won the judging panel over with her performance. The winner commented just minutes after receiving the much sought-after prize, "I'm overwhelmed to be this year's winner. I've worked so hard over the past few months and the work has paid off. The talent in Dublin this week has been phenomenal; I can't quite believe that I'm the 2016 winner." The 24-year-old from Cairo was honoured at the National Concert Hall on Thursday night where a total of six finalists performed for the judges. Said performed three arias on Thursday night accompanied by the Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra, conducted by Patrik Ringborg.

Fatma is also one of 10 young people worldwide to receive a scholarship to study song at the prestigious music academy La Scala Academy in Milan. "I can't remember a time when I fell in love with singing. I always loved singing and I always loved music, particularly music, because I came to love opera at a later stage of my life. I must say that being at a German school in Cairo helped me a lot to develop a taste of classical music." She described it as a "huge honour" to be accepted to study at La Scala. "I did the auditions after my studies in Germany," she explained. "It's a great experience to be in Italy as an opera singer. I think it's a very important thing for any opera singer to live in Italy at a point in time. Being in Milan and La Scala is definitely the best place one can be as an opera singer."

Over the past 21 years the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, which is now run in association with Wexford Festival Opera, and sponsored by Griffith College, has established itself as an Irish musical event of international standing, offering a global stage for the encouragement and development of Irish and international vocal talent. Previous prize winners of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition include Nadine Sierra, who opened as Gilda in Rigoletto in the Metropolitan Opera New York late last year, Tara Erraught, currently lead mezzo-soprano with the Munich State Opera and Irish soprano Celine Byrne.

The competition was inaugurated in 1995 to honour the lifetime's work of Dr Veronica Dunne, Ireland's Grande Dame of singing. Dublin born Veronica has had a glittering operatic career on the world stage and has devoted her life to the selfless training of young voices. Amongst her students who have gone on to enjoy international careers are Suzanne Murphy, Patricia Bardon and Tara Erraught. Veronica currently teaches at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and is a constant presence on the Irish and international operatic scene. She is a dedicated advocate of vocal music education and has been a key influencer in the success of hundreds of singers, due to her teaching methods and commitment to her students.

Speaking about the competition, Diarmuid Hegarty, Chair of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, said: "We are so delighted for our winner and all our finalists for getting the opportunity to perform at the competition in Dublin. The competition opens the doors of opera to young performers and allows them to be seen on the international stage. The team are overwhelmed by the standard of performances in this year's competition and we are excited to see what the future holds for young opera talent."

Veronica Dunne founder of the competition, commented: "My aim with this competition is to help the young singers of today to succeed in the international world of opera and to find jobs for them on the great opera stages of the world. I feel we are achieving this more and more with each successive competition and this year is no exception. The performances over the past week have been outstanding and it is really exciting to see the passion young people have for opera, not only in Ireland but across the world."

To post a comment, you must register and login.