Media Releases

Yesterday, at Melba Hall, thirty one year old Sydney Baritone James Roser won the 2010 Mietta Song Recital Award ($5,000). Roser also won The O’Donnell Family Prize and the Tait Foundation Prize. These awards will enable Roser to pursue his vocal studies overseas.

Adelaide born, now Melbourne based soprano, Greta Bradman won the Second Prize as well as the Murray River International Festival Music Prize. The other finalist, Sydney soprano Angela Brun won the Arnold and Mary Bram Australian Song Prize together with her accompanist Sydney pianist Jem Harding. Brun also won the Audience Choice Prize.

For the second competition in a row Harding won the Hugh D. T. Williamson Prize for Most Outstanding pianist ($5,000) while Melbourne pianist Raymond Yong (a semi-finalist) was awarded second prize ($2,000).

The 2010 judging panel chaired by Emeritus Professor John Poynter AO included sopranos Lisa Gasteen AO, Marilyn Richardson, pianist and Sharolyn Kimmorley AM.

At the award ceremony Mietta Song Recital Award Chair, Noel Turnbull, announced that the award will from henceforth be called The Mietta Song Competition from the 2012 Competition and would continue to be dedicated to promotion of art song performance and appreciation.

He said the Committee was working on programs to increase the number of entrants, appointing interstate ambassadors and working towards a live auditioning process.