The Singer of the Year Competition is proudly supported by the Robert Salzer Foundation.
Singer of the Year 2024
The 2024 finalists left to right Ben Glover, Esther Counsel and Lisette Bolton pose with MWMC President Kevin Seerup, (left), their accompanist Konrad Olszewski and our Music Director Mitchell Meyer (right)
Our Winner Esther Counsel, with Kevin Seerup and Mitchell Meyer
The 2024 competition produced some wonderful performances from the competitors at the qualifying heats at Federation Estate and an outstanding finale, with the James Tatoulis Auditorium at Methodist Ladies College Kew resounding to the songs and arias of our SOTY finalists Lisette Bolton, Ben Glover and Esther Counsel.
The contestants’ program:
Lisette Bolton: Ach, ich Fühls and Einst träumte sel’gen Base |
Ben Glover: Love Too Frequently Betrayed and Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön |
Esther Counsel: Donde lieta usci and Pleurez mes yeux |
Performances were adjudicated by Margaret Arnold and MWMC Music Director Mitchell Meyer
The Judges commented on the standard of performance of all the contestants, awarding the SOTY prize and trophy to Esther Counsel.
We congratulate all the finalists on their performances and look forward to having them perform with the choir as guest soloists in future. The choir’s thanks go to the distinguished adjudicator Margaret Arnold and the finalist’s talented accompanist – Konrad Olszewski.
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Singer of the Year 2023
The 2023 finalists left to right Alessia Pintabona, Naomi Flatman and Lisette Bolton pose with our MD David Ashton-Smith.
The 2023 competition produced some wonderful performances from the competitors at the elimination heats at Federation Estate and an outstanding finale with the auditorium at the North Ringwood Uniting Church resounding to the songs and arias of our SOTY finalists. The SOTY winner on this occasion was mezzo-soprano – Naomi Flatman.
We congratulate all the finalists on their performances and look forward to having them perform with the choir as guest soloists in future. The choir’s thanks go to the distinguished adjudicator Margaret Arnold and the finalist’s talented accompanist – Phillipa Safey.
History
The inaugural Singer of the Year Competition was held in 1993 and since then it has become one of Australia’s leading performance competitions. It is one of the few competitions which emphasise performance as a key criteria. Previous winners have gone on to grace the national and international opera and concert stages.
- 2024 – Esther Counsel (Soprano)
- 2023 – Naomi Flatman (Lyric Mezzo Soprano)
- 2022 – Shania Eliassen (Soprano)
- 2021 – Samantha Hargeaves (Soprano)
- 2020 – Gabrielle Penney (Soprano)
- 2019 – Chloe Harris (Mezzo Soprano)
- 2018 – Stephen Marsh (Baritone)
- 2017 – Bronte Zemlic (Mezzo Soprano)
- 2016 – Kate Amos(Soprano)
- 2015 – Michael Lampard (Baritone)
- 2014 – Jeremy Kleeman (Bass/Baritone)
- 2013 – Stacey Alleaume (Soprano)
- 2012 – Lee Abrahmsen (Soprano)
- 2011 – Siobhan Stagg (Soprano)
- 2010 – Barbara Zavros (Soprano)
- 2009 – Samuel Dundas (Baritone)
- 2008 – Jacqueline Porter (Soprano)
- 2007 – Adrian Tamburini (Baritone)
- 2006 – Suzanne Shakespeare (Coloratura-Soprano)
- 2005 – Lauren Oldham (Soprano)
- 2004 – Mark Fowler (Tenor)
- 2003 – Lisa Anne Robinson (Soprano)
- 2002 – Michelle Cook (Soprano)
- 2001 – Amanda Forbes (Soprano)
- 2000 – John Bode (Tenor)
- 1999 – Alexandra Sherman (Mezzo-Soprano)
- 1998 – Leslie Martin (Soprano)
- 1997 – Kim Wheeler (Soprano)
- 1996 – Antoinette Halloran (Soprano)
- 1995 – Sally-Anne Russell (Mezzo-Soprano)
- 1994 – Paul Blewett (Baritone)
- 1993 – Paul Batey (Tenor)
