Mietta Foundation		in association with the       2004 melbourne international arts festival
	presents

Mietta Song Recital Award 2003
Comments and Notices

"The Award is an important and rare opportunity for singers and accompanists in Australia and New Zealand to participate in Master Classes and perform a program of art song in the competition. Artists and audience alike will find the Award a wonderfully stimulating and absorbing event. In 2003 the event produced many fine performances. I encourage singers and accompanists to enter the 2004 competition."

Patron Richard Bonynge AO CBE

"Since winning the Award in 2003 I have been busier than ever with singing engagements, my ongoing studies at the Sydney Conservatorium and the great trip to Italy and Germany at the end of the year. Without a doubt, I owe all this to the Mietta Song Recital Award and the crucial springboard it has provided to my professional singing career."

Leah Thomas, Winner of the Mietta Song Recital Award 2003

"Apart from the technical benefits [of the competition and master classes] it's given me a huge boost of confidence... it helps your opera because you learn to look at different colours... I've just started singing my arias again and they've leapt ten steps... The Mietta also looks at how well you work with your accompanist... I'm always going to do recitals... [it enables me] to keep up with that repertoire and technique."

Leah Thomas Winner Mietta Song Recital Award 2003 Leah's ambition is for an international operatic career

"Congratulations the great success of the Mietta Song Recital Award events, and on the organisation and presentation of the Master Classes and the Competition"

Denise Shepherd: French language Coach and Master Class leader

"I enjoyed the [master class] session with Lauris Elms very much, and would certainly like to be involved in the future. Congratulations on what I believe was a very successful event."

Len Vorster: Master class leader with Lauris Elms

"The Master classes and the Mietta Song Recital Award Competition are the best thing I've been involved in for ages" Joanne Goodman: Master Class participant, Finalist and Winner of the Encouragement Award

"It was a wonderful experience to be part of, I really found the competition very valuable and met some lovely people. I will be certain to enter again."

Benjamin Martin: Finalist and participant in the Master Classes

"The Mietta Song Recital Award is a real musicians competition"

Maree Ryan, voice teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium teacher of winner Leah Thomas

"I am delighted to hear that the competition will be going ahead again next year as it is an important art form to encourage"

Dr Tony Gould, Head, School of Music, Victorian College of the arts