Report on the Mietta Song Recital Award 2003

Patrons of the MSRA, Richard Bonygne and Maria O'Donnell, with 2003 winner, Leah Thomas

The Mietta Song Recital Award 2003 was held in April 2003, with the semi-finals on Saturday 12 April and the Final on Sunday 13 April. Master classes for semi-finalists were held in the preceding week, on Wednesday 9 April and Thursday 10 April.

The Song Recital Award was launched by Mietta O’Donnell and Tony Knox, with Len Vorster and Michael Easton, in 1995 and ran for the following six years, to provide a forum for performers of the specialist musical form of art song.

• to provide performance opportunities, nationally and internationally, for singers and accompanists
• to provide competition opportunities, at an international level, for Australian performers
• to promote the commissioning of new works in the Art Song genre
• to promote the performance and wider appreciation of Art Song in all its diversity
• to build audiences for Art Song through live performance, broadcasting and recording.

The re-launch of the Song Recital Award, re-named in Mietta’s honour, was greeted with enthusiasm and delight by singers, pianists, teachers, arts media commentators and audience alike. The 2003 competition was acclaimed as a great success, with a high standard of entrants, an excellent field of semi-finalists and finalists, and highly talented prize winners. The calibre of the Judges, Patrons, Masters and performers was a testament to the esteem in which the Award is held in the arts field in Australia and indeed internationally. A generous prizes pool worth about $20,000 was available.

The winner of the Mietta Song Recital Award 2003 was Ms Leah Thomas, soprano, who convinced not only the Judges but also the audience, adding the popular vote to the formal title of 2003 Award Winner.

Semi-finalists came from NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and New Zealand. In addition to Leah Thomas, those selected from the initial tape auditions were Amy Cutler, soprano; Joanne Goodman, mezzo-soprano (Winner of the encouragement award); Benjamin Martin, tenor; Caroline Chown, soprano; Linden Loader, mezzo-soprano; James Payne, baritone; and Caroline Wenborne, soprano. Accompanists were Katherine Austin, Michael Black, Bethany Cook, Francis Greep, Kate Golla, Paul Hankinson and David McSkimming.

Finalists were Amy Cutler, soprano; Benjamin Martin, tenor; Joanne Goodman, mezzo soprano, and Leah Thomas, soprano.

The standard of performance of the musical partnerships was such that the eminent panel of Judges decided, on the day, to award a special prize to each of the accompanists in the final, in recognition of their musical excellence.

Media coverage of the event was positive and sponsors and supporters who attended the semi-finals and the final and the Master classes were extremely enthusiastic and happy with the events and the outcome.

Entrants

The Mietta Song Recital Award 2003 attracted a total of 54 entrants, from all States in Australia and from New Zealand – an excellent field for this art form. There was wide support for and interest in the competition amongst singers and teachers. Entrants were attracted by advertising, information on the web site of miettas.com and a mailing campaign to interested parties including past competitors, teachers, conservatoriums and opera companies.

Preliminary judging, by anonymous audition of recordings, was held on 3 February. The judges were very pleased with the overall quality of the entrants.

Eight semi finalists and five reserves were selected from the entry field, indicating the depth of quality in the entrant pool.

Patrons

Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, Richard Bonynge AO CBE, Yvonne Kenny AM and Maria O’Donnell agreed to be Patrons of the Award. This demonstrates the high level of awareness and support for the Mietta Song Recital Award amongst musicians of international reputation.

Judges

Judges for the semi finals and finals were Richard Bonynge, Marilyn Richardson and Peter Burch, with the panel chaired by Emeritus Professor John Poynter (Chair, Mietta Song Recital Award Committee).

Venue & Events

With the support of the Victorian College of the Arts, the venue for the semi-finals and final was Federation Hall, VCA. Two Master classes were held at the VCA and one at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).

• Distinguished pianist Geoffrey Tozer, with accompanist David McSkimming (a repetiteur at Opera Australia)
• The incomparable contralto Lauris Elms (traveling from Sydney) and Len Vorster piano accompanist (and linguist).
• Voice and French language coach Denise Shepherd, with accompanist David McSkimming.

The Master classes and the Mietta Song Recital Award competition are designed to enhance and develop the career and skills of the singers and accompanists who are selected as semi-finalists in the Award competition.

The Master classes also provide an important opportunity for eminent artists to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.

The Finals series, held over the weekend of 12 & 13 April, was a highly successful event, in pleasant surroundings and with generous and stylish hospitality, attributable in no small part to the inimitable contribution of Patricia O’Donnell. The MSRA Committee and the Mietta Foundation, through the Chair, Ralph Willis, were delighted to be able to offer hospitality throughout and a closing reception on Sunday evening, to competitors, supporters, donors and Friends of the Foundation and the MSRA.

The tenor of the competition was enriched also by the expert contribution of MSRA Committee member, Helen Noonan, as Master of Ceremonies.

Broadcast

ABC FM recorded the semi finals and finals for broadcast. (Date yet to be confirmed.)

Advertising and publicity

The Mietta Song Recital Award and the Masterclasses which form part of the Award program were advertised and publicised:

• on the Mietta Song Recital Award website
• by advertisements placed in the press
• with a campaign of publicity resulting in media coverage
• by distribution of flyers

• the Victorian College of the Arts
• the Australian National Academy of Music
• Conservatoriums and Music Schools
• The Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing
• other educators in the field of music throughout Australia.