The Australian Singing Competition (ASC) evolved from the

Marianne Mathy Marianne Mathy () (23 June 1890 – 18 October 1978) was a coloratura soprano opera singer and distinguished teacher of opera and classical singing. Germany Born Marianne Helene Sara Kahn in Mannheim, Germany, in 1913 Marianne married Colonel E ...

Scholarship, established in 1982 through a bequest made in the will of

-Frisdane, a coloratura soprano

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

singer and distinguished teacher of opera and classical singing. __TOC__ The ASC rules and repertoire requirements are designed for young opera and classical singers, under 26 years of age. The competition is now recognised as one of the longest-running events of its kind, offering a range of scholarships, prizes, career and network opportunities, which also make the competition one of the richest in terms of financial and career opportunities available to recipients. Since 1982 the premier award of the competition has been the Marianne Mathy Scholarship, known by its participants and within its industry as "The Mathy". Since 1998 the final concert of the competition has taken place in various capital cities around Australia, featuring many prominent conductors and some of Australia's leading orchestras. The competition has had the patronage of several Governor-Generals of Australia, most recently The Honourable Quentin Bryce AC (2010–2014). In 2014 the ASC formally welcomed

Haruhisa Handa is a Japanese religious leader and a businessman. Handa is the Chairman and spiritual leader of the Shinto-based religion World Mate. He is also known by the name in his artistic career, as well as the pen name . He also uses the pseudonym , w ...

as patron of the renamed IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition in recognition of his ongoing sponsorship and support, both personally and as chairman of the International Foundation for Arts and Culture (IFAC). The winner of the Opera Awards (Australia) is acknowledged and invited to perform as a guest artist at the finals concert of the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition.

Marianne Mathy Scholarship winners ("The Mathy")

The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition is managed by Music & Opera Singers Trust Limited.

References

External links

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Music Australia – The Australian Singing Competition

National Library of Australia The National Library of Australia (NLA), formerly the Commonwealth National Library and Commonwealth Parliament Library, is the largest reference library in Australia, responsible under the terms of the ''National Library Act 1960'' for "mainta ...

*
Opera Awards (Australia) website

Music & Opera Singers Trust (MOST) website
{{Portal bar, Opera Opera competitions Singing competitions Music organisations based in Australia Arts organizations established in 1982 1982 establishments in Australia