The Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award is to promote the bel canto style of singing and repertoire. Established in 2011, the competition has been open to Australian and New Zealand singers from 2011 to 2019.

To date $885,000 in scholarships and prizes has been awarded.
In 2020, the Foundation decided to make the competition international. Sadly, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the international competition had to be cancelled.

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.

2020 Updated Competition 

2020 JSRB Bel Canto Awards

To replace the 2020 competition the Foundation will be offering 10 prizes
valued from $1,000 to $10,000 for Australian professional singers aged 24-36 who have been affected by the global pandemic.

Entrants can Apply Online or Download an entry form and return it to belcantoaward@jsrbfoundation.com. Sign up for updates for the 2021 competition.