Media Releases

Professor Mel Waters has been appointed Chair of the Mietta Song Competition’s Artistic Committee.

The appointment is one of a series of new developments for the MSC which will hold its 11th Biennial Competition on July 18-22, 2012.

MSC conducted, for the first time, live national auditions for the preliminary rounds of the competition – a move which has received strong support from singers, teachers and conservatoriums.

Melbourne Opera singer Margaret Haggart and Sydney pianist and former Head of Music at Opera Australia Sharolyn Kimmorley AM conducted the auditions in March 2012.

Professor Waters joins the committee following his recent positions as Managing Director, Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust, 2008 – 2010 and Managing Director and Dean, Melba Conservatorium, 1999 – 2008.

“Professor Waters brings a wealth of experience in education, classical performance and management to the MSC. We are delighted he has accepted the invitation,” MSC Chairman, Noel Turnbull, said.

“The level of interest from singers at this early stage is very strong and we are optimistic that this will be one of our most successful competitions yet.

“We are delighted that the generous MSC prizes give impetus to finalists’ careers,” he said.

MSC 2010 winner, Sydney Baritone James Roser, has been enjoying significant success since the last competition. Roser has, since the competition, participated in the Franz Schubert Institut Liederkurs (Austria) studying lieder with Roger Vignoles, Elly Ameling and Barbara Bonney. As winner of the 2012 Vienna State Opera Award, he begins working at the Vienna State Opera, January 2012.