AUSTRALIAN OPERA AWARDS COMMITTEE

The AOAC committee consists of professional volunteers who are committed music lovers and advocates of the Arts. Since our inception by Shelia Prior 40 years ago, the AOAC has raised and awarded millions of dollars to support OPERA in Australia.

The Australian Opera Awards Committee was the first to honour Dame Joan Sutherland by establishing a scholarship in her name. For forty years, the Dame Joan Sutherland/AOAC Scholarship has been awarded annually. Among the many notable recipients of this award include Anthony Warlow, Daniel Sumegi, John Antoniou, Maria Pollicina, Gregory Tomlinson, Dominic Natoli, James Hancock, Richard Alexander, Dwayne Jones, Deborah Humble, Brad Cooper Andrew Goodwin, Emma Jayakumar, Simon Thew, Amy Radford and Lorina Gore.

The AOAC has sponsored three CDs; ‘The Power of Love’, Deborah Riedel with Richard Bonynge conducting the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras, Horst Hoffmann’s ‘Great Opera Heroes’, in the Voice of Australia series for Walsingham Classics and for Melba Records and ‘Lisa Gasteen-Singer of the World’.

AOAC Committee Members

Dr Michael Warczak OAM

Dr Michael Warczak OAM

CHAIR
Judith Ward

Judith Ward

Deputy Chair
Maxim Mangraviti

Maxim Mangraviti

Secretary
Lukess Wagstaff

Lukess Wagstaff

Treasurer
John Hayson

John Hayson

Committee
 
 
 

AOAC PATRONS

His Exellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d)

His Exellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d)

Vice Regal Patron

His Exellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d)

Governor of New South Wales

Professor the Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

Professor the Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

Vice Patron

Professor the Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

Mr. Richard A. Bonynge AC CBE

Mr. Richard A. Bonynge AC CBE

Vice Patron

Mr. Richard A. Bonynge AC CBE

The Hon. Michael D. Kirby AC CMG

The Hon. Michael D. Kirby AC CMG

Vice Patron

The Hon. Michael D. Kirby AC CMG

"Over 40 Years The AOAC has given millions of dollars in Scholarships and Awards"

Beneficiaries

AOAC Dame Joan Sutherland Award – $20,000
– Julie Lee Goodwin (soprano)
AOAC E Chang and E & K Ong Opera Scholarship – $10,000
– Jenny Lui (soprano)
AOAC Sheila Prior Memorial Award (worth $5000)
– Michael Honeyman (baritone)
AOAC Dame Joan Sutherland Award – $20,000
– Stacey Alleaume (soprano)
AOAC E Chang and E & K Ong Opera Scholarships – $10,000
– Sarah Wang (soprano)
– Tahu Matheson (pianist)
AOAC Sheila Prior Memorial Award (worth $5000)
– Morgan Balfour (soprano)
AOAC Dame Joan Sutherland Award – $20,000
– David Parkin (bass baritone)
AOAC E Chang and E & K Ong Opera Scholarship – $10,000
– Cathy-Di Zhang (soprano)
AOAC Sheila Prior Memorial Award (worth $5000) to attend The Lisa Gasteen National Opera School
– Eugene Reggio (bass baritone)

Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship – $20,000
– Pacific Opera – Hansel & Gretel production

Sheila Prior Study grants – $300
– David Corcoran (Tenor)
– Andrew Jones (Baritone)
– Jane Parkin (Soprano)

Sheila Prior Study Grant – $2,000
– Anna Yun (mezzo)

Sheila Prior Study Grant – $2,250
– Carolyn Watson  (Conductor)

Sheila Prior Study Grant – $5,000
– James Roser(Baritone)

Sheila Prior Grant – $5,000
– Music and Opera Singers Trust (MOST) – AUSSING

Nina Barden Bequest $10,000
– Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program, Opera Australia

Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship – $20,000
– Amy Radford (Soprano)

Sheila Prior Travel Grant – $5,000
– Brian Castles-Onion (Conductor)

Nina Barden Bequest – OA Young Artist Programme, $20,000
YAPs – David Corcoran (Tenor), Andrew Moran (Baritone), Stephen Smith (Tenor), Christopher Tuinen (Conductor), Amy Wilkinson (Soprano)

Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship – $20,000
– Simon Thew   (Conductor)

Sheila Prior Awards – $5,000
– Michael Lampard (Baritone) at AUSSING
– Mary Jean O’Doherty  (Coloratura Soprano)