2014

BEL CANTO AWARD JOAN SUTHERLAND RICHARD BONYNGE

Australia’s most prestigious classical singing competition held in conjunction with the Elizabeth Connell Prize.

Finals Concert Saturday, 13 September, 2014 Verbrugghen Hall Sydney Conservatorium of Music Macquarie Street, Sydney

presented by

Joan Sutherland and Richard BonyngeJoan Sutherland and Richard BonyngeJoan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge

Bel Canto Award 2014Bel Canto Award 2014Bel Canto Award 2014

ENTRIES NOW OPEN

The Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation is proud to present the 2014 Bel Canto Award held in conjunction with the Elizabeth Connell Prize for aspiring Dramatic Sopranos.

Heats judged by: Bernadette Cullen and John Pringle AM

Semi Final judged by: Bernadette Cullen, Moffatt Oxenbould AM and John Pringle AM Final judged by: Maestro Richard Bonynge AC CBE, Marilyn Richardson, Bernadette Cullen, Moffatt Oxenbould AM

The Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award was established in memory of the late Dame Joan Sutherland. This award is to honour both Dame Joan’s and Maestro Bonynge’s extraordinary legacy to the operatic world and their commitment to helping young singers. With an emphasis on the Bel Canto style of singing, the Award is open to ALL Australian and New Zealand professional and non-professional opera singers of ALL voice types aged 20 - 30 years. In 2014 the total prize value is over $67,000.

The top ten singers will each receive some form of financial assistance. In addition to the $30,000 first prize, the winner will also be accepted into the Georg Solti Accademia di Bel Canto in Italy for 2015 and take part in the Solti Verbier Opera Project at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland during the Solti course - total value $12,000. The Solti Accademia attracts some of the world’s most distinguished mentors and specialises in the art of Bel Canto singing. In 2015 the students will also give a concert performance at the internationally renowned Verbier Festival. Alumni of the Accademia will then be considered for a stage production at the Verbier Festival in 2016.

http://www.georgsoltiaccademia.org/index.php http://www.verbierfestival.com/home

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: 2 MAY, 2014 NO LATE OR INCOMPLETE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE

Heats: 20, 21 June 2014 at Opera Centre, 2nd Floor, 480 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney

Public Semi Final: 22 June, 2014 at 2.00pm, Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium

Public Final: 13 September, 2014 at 4.00pm, Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium

PAYMENT DETAILS FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT

ENTRY FEE: $75 Cheque or money order made payable to: J Sutherland & R Bonynge Foundation Ltd Bank: ANZ Account Name: J Sutherland & R Bonynge Foundation Ltd Account No: 212 078 571 BSB: 012 205 Ref: Your name (this is important to verify and identify your payment. Please keep a copy of your DD)

JS RB

MAJOR PRIZES ON OFFER

Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award: $30,000 plus - acceptance into the Georg Solti Accademia for 2015, value $10,000 - concert performance at the Verbier Festival, Switzerland, value $2,000 Total value of 1st Prize $42,000

Richard Bonynge Award: value $8,000 (donated by Maestro Richard Bonynge AC CBE)

Deborah Riedel Award: value $6,000 (donated by Mr Paul Ferris & Mr & Mrs Kevin Troy)

Duncan Kinnon & Annamaria Kinnon OAM Finalist Prizes: $1,500 each for the two remaining finalists - total value $3,000.

Decca Bel Canto Award Prize: $2,500 worth of CDs & DVDs for one finalist. (donated by Universal Music)

MAJOR PRIZES ON OFFER

Hawaii Performing Arts Festival: 3 week Bel Canto course on Hawaii’s big

island, value $3,500 plus $500 toward an airfare to Hawaii

Salvatore Ferragamo Prize: One pair of ladies and one pair of men’s shoes value $1,600

The Tait Memorial Trust Prize: A chance to perform in a TMT Concert in London.

Dante Alighieri Prize: 1 Term of Italian tuition at Dante Alighieri in Sydney for either a semi finalist or finalist.

Great, Grand and Famous Opera Houses Book: Awarded to one finalist

The Megan Evans OAM Encouragement Award: Value $500 for one semi finalist

Four Semi Finalist prizes: $200 each, total value $800

All ten Semi Finalists will receive an Opera CD courtesy of Universal Music

Applications can be sent via post or email to: Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award P.O. Box 2692 BOWRAL NSW Australia 2576 Tel: 61 2 9817 4919 or 61 (0) 402 02 4118 OR Email: belcantoaward@jsrbfoundation.com Application Forms and Enquiries: www.jsrbfoundation.com Email: belcantoaward@jsrbfoundation.com

Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge

Bel Canto Award 2014

Rules and Regulations

Closing date for entries: 2 MAY, 2014 Heats: 20 - 21 June, 2014 at The Opera Centre, Opera Australia, 480 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney

Semi Final: 22 June, 2014 at 2.00pm Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Final: 13 September, 2014 at 4.00pm Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music

1. All entrants must complete the official Application Form and provide all necessary documentation.

2. It is essential all entrants read the list of Rules and Regulations carefully before entering the competition and agree to abide by them.

3. Entrants must be available to participate in the 2015 Solti Accademia Summer School in Italy and Verbier Festival in Switzerland.

Richard Bonynge is quoted as saying, “Beautiful singing is the basis of Bel Canto. It’s more than just singing, it’s creating living, dramatic characters who

sing gloriously.” Bel Canto literally means “beautiful song”. The Bel Canto Award is as much about the bel canto style as it is about the bel canto

repertoire. Despite an emphasis on the Italian bel canto repertoire, entrants will not be restricted to it - please see “Repertoire” for complete details.

1. The Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award is open to all professional and non-professional Australian and New Zealand citizens and/

or residents, 20 - 30 years of age, as of 30 June, 2014.

2. All entrants must be available to sing in all stages of the competition - Heats, Semi Final and Final on the specified dates.

3. No previous winners of the first prize Bel Canto Award are eligible to enter.

4. APPLICATION FORM - All entrants must complete an official Application Form and provide all the necessary additional documentation.

5. STUDY PLAN - All entrants must provide a DETAILED STUDY PLAN no longer than 1 x A4 page.

6. CV/BIOG - All entrants must provide a DETAILED CV no longer than 1 x A4 page.

7. PHOTO - All entrants must provide a recent and clearly labelled publicity photo. A 6 x 4 acceptable or jpeg which is preferable

8. ENTRANCE FEE - The $75 entry fee may be sent by cheque or directly deposited into the relevant bank account.

9. DECLARATION - All entrants must sign and send back their declaration form.

10. Application Forms can be posted, emailed or hand delivered to the Foundation.

11. Your entry is accepted once your complete application and entry fee arrive. Confirmation will be notified by email.

12. It is not the responsibility of the Foundation to chase up any incomplete entry forms or late payments.

13. All applications must arrive by, or be post marked no later than 2 MAY, 2014.

14. No entries or part entries will be accepted after this date.

15. Unless there is a specific request, interstate and overseas entrants will be scheduled to sing on the 21 June for the Heats.

16. The winner of the Georg Solti Accademia and Verbier Prize must be available to undertake the three week summer course in Castiglione della

Pescaia and concert in Verbier on the given dates. The dates for 2015 are approximately 28 June - 25 July.

17. By signing the application form you agree to attend this course and concert in 2015 should you be the winner.

18. The winner must organise and pay for their own travel and visa requirements as and where necessary for attendance at the Solti Accademia in Italy.

19. All accommodation and tuition expenses are provided for this course, plus travel to and accommodation in Verbier.

20. The winner of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival Prize must be available to take part in their summer course in July 2015.

21. All meals, accommodation and tuition are covered as part of the HPAF Prize. $500 will be provided to help cover the cost of the airfare to Hawaii.

JS RB

DATES

BASIC ENTRY DETAILS

CRITERIA—WHAT IS BEL CANTO?

ELIGIBILITY & AGE

Rules and Regulations

Pg 2

1. Each contestant must provide FIVE contrasting operatic arias including:

TWO contrasting arias from any of the following Bel Canto composers: Bellini, Boito, Catalani, Cilea, Donizetti, Giordano, Leoncavallo,

Mascagni, Ponchielli, Puccini, Rossini, Verdi.

THREE contrasting arias from either a French, German, Czech, Italian or Russian composer - one of which must be by either Handel,

Mozart or Haydn.

2. Repertoire should be chosen carefully and be appropriate to the singer’s level of accomplishment.

3. All repertoire must be sung in the original language, the original key and from memory.

4. No aria should exceed EIGHT minutes in length, inclusive of all preceding recit and/or Da Capo sections.

5. Changes can me made to selected arias but must be made by email or phone 14 days prior to the commencement of the Heats.

6. HEATS - Entrants will be asked to sing ONE or TWO arias or part thereof. Each entrant will then be briefly interviewed by the judging panel to

discuss their proposed study plan. The number of arias sung or length of interview is no indication of the judges consideration or lack of

consideration of an entrant for the semi final. At the conclusion of the final day of Heats, the ten Semi Finalists will be notified by phone with

their names posted on the website. Semi Final repertoire will be decided that evening.

7. SEMI FINAL - Ten Semi Finalists will be chosen to compete from the Heats selection process. The judges will hear TWO different arias, one

chosen by the contestant and one by the judging panel to be confirmed at the conclusion of the Heats process.

8. The judges will base their decision on the Semi Final performance and take into consideration the entrant’s performance in the Heats as well

as their intended course of study.

9. FINAL - Five Finalists will be chosen from the Semi Final. TWO arias must be performed in the Final, to be chosen by the judges in

consultation with the entrant. One of those arias must be a Bel Canto aria or an aria by Mozart, Handel or Haydn.

1. ALL CONTESTANTS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN ACCOMPANIST FOR THE HEATS & SEMI FINAL.

2. Please state your accompanist’s name on your application form, if possible, so that we can group as many singers together with

the same accompanist. Please notify the office no later than 3 weeks prior to the Heats of your choice of accompanist if you haven’t already

done so on the application form.

3. NOTE: Semi Final accompanist: Entrants must organise their own accompanist for the Semi Final. On receipt of an invoice the organisers will

pay each accompanist $40 per singer to accompany them at the Semi Final only on Sunday 22 June to alleviate this cost to the singer.

4. At least one copy of all music to be performed must be provided for the adjudicators in the Heats. Scores or legible copies

pasted into books must be provided for the official accompanist at the Final.

5. No plastic sleeves or loose leaf sheets. These will not be accepted.

6. If you need assistance in finding an accompanist for the Heats please let us know so that we can recommend someone for you.

7. Semi Finalists needing an accompanist should let the organisers know when they are notified they are through to the Semi Final.

8. The official accompanist for the Final will be David Harper.

1. The decision of the judging panel is final.

2. No correspondence will be entered into with the judges, the members of the Foundation or with any third party regarding the

judges decision.

3. Contestants will be judged on:

Voice Quality - Musicality - Artistry - Standard of Technique - Language - Accuracy Suitability to selected arias - Study Plan - Potential - Presentation - Communication

JS RB

REPERTOIRE AND SELECTION PROCESS

ACCOMPANIST - there are important changes for the Semi Final this year.

JUDGING

Rules and Regulations

Pg 3

1. This year’s Bel Canto Award will be held in conjunction with the inaugural Elizabeth Connell Prize for aspiring dramatic sopranos.

2. Five BCA singers and five ECP singers will perform at the Final and be judged as two separate competitions by the judging panel.

3. Each entrant will be allocated a specific time to compete in the Heats and will be notified well in advance. We will endeavour to

accommodate requests for specific days and times but cannot guarantee them. Early requests will be give priority, therefore any requests

should be made as early as possible.

4. The Semi Final and Final will be open to the paying Public.

5. If a contestant cannot attend the Accademia for whatever reason, they must advise the office of the Foundation before the

commencement of the competition. This would NOT disqualify them from the competition or the possibility of another prize.

6. The organisers reserve the right to withdraw or retract any funds or prizes at their discretion should the recipient not fulfil his or her

intended course of study. Winners unable to use prize money or prizes must forgo these prizes and notify the organisers immediately.

7. No prizes or prize money is transferable or for any use other than its intended purpose as agreed upon by the judges and Board of the

Foundation.

8. The Georg Solti Accademia prize cannot be deferred to another year.

9. If the winner cannot attend the Solti Accademia due to extenuating circumstances which are acceptable to the organisers, they MUST

notify the organisers no later than the 30 December, 2014.

10. Should this situation arise then the Richard Bonynge Award recipient will be considered as a replacement. In this situation they too must

also confirm by 30 December 2014 their availability to attend the Solti Accademia and Verbier Festival.

11. Should the winner of the Georg Solti Accademia prize be unable to attend the summer course for medical reasons, the recipient must

provide a medical certificate and give fair notice if possible.

12. It will be up to the Foundation to decide whether or not a replacement singer be considered.

13. The Foundation will liaise with the Georg Solti Accademia on behalf of the winner until the winner arrives at the Accademia. This prize

covers all accommodation within the dates of the course and tuition but does not include airfares or additional travel and visas.

14. 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize money will be given in instalments as requested and with the Foundation’s approval.

15. Should the winner change his or her study plan they must notify the Foundation for approval.

16. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners must keep the organisers informed of their progress throughout their period of study with a final report

submitted by all.

17. The organisers reserve the right to photograph, audio record, video tape or broadcast all or any part of this Award for archival and

promotional purposes. These rights remain the property of the Foundation.

18. The winner must take part in at least two of the Foundation’s future fund raising events when asked if available. All prize winners agree to

take part in at least one of the Foundation’s fundraising events when asked if available.

19. Contestants must make themselves available for any publicity or media calls.

20. All prize winners MUST write thank you letters to all or any sponsors of any prize they win.

21. The winners are requested, where possible, to acknowledge the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award in any personal

biographical material.

Question: Can Australian and New Zealand sopranos enter the Bel Canto Award and Elizabeth Connell Prize in the same year?

Answer: Yes. However entrants will be required to compete in all levels of each competition. Should a singer reach the Final of both competitions

she will be expected to perform four (4) arias at the Public Final.

Question: Can previous winners of the Bel Canto Award enter the Elizabeth Connell Prize?

Answer: Yes

The Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Opera Foundation is a tax deductible fund listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations under Subdivision 30-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 | P.O. Box 880, Leichhardt N.S.W. 2040 | ph: (02) 4861 2440 | m: 0402 02 4118 | belcantoaward@jsrbfoundation.com

www.jsrbfoundation.com | ABN 61 583 080 824 | Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

JS RB

GENERAL

FAQ’s

Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge

Bel Canto Award 2014

Application Form

Repertoire to perform - name of aria, opera and composer (see Repertoire section in Rules and Regulations).

JS RB

First Name Last Name/s

Email Telephone

Mobile

Date of

Birth

Nationality Telephone

Home + codes

Place of

Birth

Address

City Postcode

(below)

Accompanist

For Heats/Semis

Country Age at

30 June, 2014 Voice Type

Current

Employment Heats - I would prefer to sing on Friday, 20 June Saturday, 21 June

Repertoire List and the Opera or Work.

Piece

Composer Time

In

Minutes

Aria

1.

Opera

Aria

2.

Opera

Aria

3.

Opera

Aria

4.

Opera

Opera

5.

Work

PERSONAL DETAILS

CHOSEN REPERTOIRE

Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge

Bel Canto Award 2014

Declaration

Please tick to make sure you have included everything with your application.

Applications may also be emailed to: belcantoaward@jsrbfoundation.com

Application Form completed and declaration signed.

Detailed CV outlining your musical/vocal training, performance experience (if any), language training (if any)

and any other information regarding your career or vocal training to date. 1 x A4 page only.

Detailed Study plan outlining any voice teachers, vocal coaches you intend to work with and/or courses

institutions you wish to attend, plus any arrangements you have already made and budget information. 1 x A4 page only.

Proof of Age (copy of driver’s licence, passport or birth certificate).

Publicity photo - A 6 x 4 photo is acceptable or jpeg which is preferable.

I have deposited or sent a cheque for $75 as my entrance fee.

I, ................................................................................................................................ declare;

(print full name)

YES, I am available and agree to attend the Georg Solti Accademia and Verbier Festival in 2015 if I am the winner of this prize.

YES, I agree to perform at least one charity performance without remuneration for the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge

Foundation if I am a Finalist or two if I am the winner.

YES, I agree to thank in writing any sponsors of any prizes I may win.

YES, I agree to provide detailed updates to the Foundation of my study and a list of expenses incurred, should I be asked to do so,

as the winner or a major cash prize winner.

Signed: .................................................................................................................. Date: ..................................................................................

JS RB