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Established in 2011, the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award is one of Australia's leading operatic singing competitions. Its aim is to promote the bel canto style of singing and repertoire synonymous with Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge. Since inception, over $1.2million in scholarships has been awarded. 

Previous judges throughout the competition have included Richard Bonynge,
Simone Young, Dame Anne Evans, Christa Ludwig, Ruth Falcon, Dame Ann Murray, James Morris, Deborah Polaski, Jane Eaglen, Bernadette Cullen, Glenn Winslade, Marilyn Richardson, Nance Grant, Brenda Hurley, Lisa Gasteen, Patricia Price, Margaret Russell, Anson Austin, John Pringle, Jennifer McGregor, Michael Lewis, Ghillian Sullivan and Fiona Janes.

We are delighted to announce the 2022 Bel Canto Award Finalists

Matthew Avery - baritone
Jake Bigwood - bass-baritone
Jeremy Boulton - baritone
Fleuranne Brockway - mezzo soprano
Chloe Lankshear - soprano
Lachlann Lawton - baritone

The Bel Canto Award is considered one of Australia's most prestigious classical competitions for voice. We hope you can join us for this glorious afternoon of singing at this year's Final which will be held in conjunction with the Sydney International Song Prize Final. In the first half of the afternoon, three singers and their pianists will each present a mini recital of Song. After interval, the BCA singers will perform two arias. All winners will be announced at the end.
Bookings highly recommended.

Date of Live Final: 20 November 2022. 
Venue: Independent Theatre, North Sydney.
Time: 1.30pm.
Judges: Richard Bonynge AC CBE, Bernadette Cullen, Patricia Price, Fiona Janes.
For tickets click link: BOOKINGS

Prizes
1st: JSRB Bel Canto Award $30,000 + trophy + a place in the 2023 Solti Accademia di Bel Canto in Italy. Cash prize donated by the Packer Family Foundation.
2nd: Richard Bonynge Award $10,000 donated by Richard Bonynge AC CBE.
3rd: $7,000 donated by  Helen Johnstone.
Decca Prize: $5,000 donated by Universal Music Australia.
Best Mozart or Handel Aria: $5,000 donated by Mr & Mrs Nigel Tolley.
John Wegner Award: $5,000 donated by Mignon Wegner.
Friends of the JSRB Foundation Award: $4,000 sponsored by the Friends of the Foundation.
Malcolm Donnelly Award: $2,500 donated by Dolores Donnelly.
Margreta Elkins Encouragement Award: $1,000 donated by Noosa Federation of the Arts.
Megan Evans OAM Encouragement Award: $1,000 donated by the Sydney Savage Club.
Audience Prize: $1,000 voted by the audience. 

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. 
Click on the Rules & Criteria button above or here
 
OPEN TO ALL AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF ALL VOICE TYPES AGED 20-30 as of 30 November 2022.

Prizes: $66,500 in prize money on offer. All finalists will receive a cash prize. 
Previous first prize winners from 2011-2019 are unable to enter. Grants recipients are eligible to enter. 

Enquiries: belcantoaward@jsrbfoundation.com

Bel Canto Award on YouTube

Previous Winners