The Opera Foundation for young Australians has announced Victorian soprano, Elizabeth Lewis as the winner of the 2015 Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship.
The announcement of this prestigious scholarship followed a public recital with the six finalists on Sunday 1st November 2015 at the 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 was truly outstanding, together with all our Finalists making the decision very difficult for our Adjudicators,” said Anna Cleary, Chair of The Opera Foundation for young Australians and Lady Fairfax’s daughter. “Elizabeth will greatly benefit from the exclusive access to prestigious international learning opportunities that this Scholarship offers.”
Elizabeth became a member of the Opera Q Studio in 2013, and joined Victorian Opera as one of their Developing Artists in 2014. 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. Working with her voice coach, Elizabeth recently made the transition from mezzo soprano to soprano.
“I have so much respect for these brave young artists, who have each worked extremely hard,” said Bradley Daley, 2015 Head Adjudicator and member of the Foundation’s Music Advisory Council. “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.”
Also announced 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 continues to uniquely open doors to the world of opera for all voice types, conductors, designers, directors and repetiteurs,” said Anna Cleary. “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.”
For more information, visit: www.operafoundationaust.org.au for details.
Image: Elizabeth Lewis – photo by David Otott