Mietta Song Competition Semi-finalists announced
April 16, 2012 | Author insider
SEMI-FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR MIETTA SONG COMPETITION
Following nationwide live auditions, the eight semifinalists for the 2012 Mietta Song Competition (MSC) have been announced.
The semifinalists include four sopranos, three mezzo-sopranos and a tenor. They are: sopranos Hannah Dahlenberg (VIC), Susannah Lawergren (NSW), Qestra Mulqueeny (NSW) and Siobhan Stagg (VIC); Mezzo-sopranos Emily Edmonds (NSW), Charlotte Betts-Dean (VIC) and Selena Pettifer (VIC) and tenor Brenton Spiteri (VIC).
The semifinals for the prestigious art song 2012 biennial competition will be held on Saturday 21 July and the finals will take place on Sunday 22 July at the Iwaki Auditorium, Southbank.
The national audition panel consisting of soprano Margaret Haggart and pianist Sharolyn Kimmorley, AM said: “The adjudication process for 2012 was highly competitive. The eight singers who have reached the finals deserve high commendation for reaching this stage.”
The MSC said this year’s entrants had been of outstanding quality and the audition panel had a difficult job choosing finalists.
The MSC is open to singers of professional standard and there is no age limit. The Mietta Song Competition (MSC) promotes the performance and wider appreciation of Art Song in all its diversity and is a tribute to the late Mietta O’Donnell, one of Melbourne’s most treasured restaurateurs and arts patrons.
Mietta Song Competition Semi-finalists 2012
Emily Edmonds: Mezzo-Soprano (NSW) is currently completing her Honours of a Bachelor of Music Performance degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has been a Young Artist with Pacific Opera since 2010, and played the role of 2nd Lady in their 2011 production of The Magic Flute, in Sydney and with the Canberra Symphony. She was the winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Memorial Award for 2011.
Charlotte Betts-Dean: Mezzo-soprano (VIC) is a final year student of a Bachelor of Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. In 2011 she reached the National Liederfest Finals. She has appeared as a soloist for ANAM, 3MBS FM, Latitude 37, Victoria Opera and the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic.
Hannah Dahlenburg: Soprano (VIC) completed her Bachelor of Music (Performance) with Honours at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. In 2011 she was a prizewinner at the RMP Oratorio Competition, semifinalist for the German Australian Opera Grant and received the Encouragement Award in the Herald Sun Aria. This year she will perform the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute with OzOpera.
Susannah Lawergren, Soprano (NSW) is a member of The Song Company. In 2008, she completed a Diploma of Opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has sung with the Opera Australia Chorus and Cantillation and was a soloist with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. In 2010, she toured with NSW Oz Opera Schools Company, was a finalist in the Opera Foundation of Australia’s German Award and came second in the National Aria Award in Canberra.
Qestra Mulqueeny, Soprano (NSW) graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium studying with the late Dr. Margreta Elkins AM. She has appeared as soloist for Verismo Studio’s Gala concerts and performed in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Qestra was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy for her groundbreaking work in respiratory bio-engineering.
Selena Pettifer, Mezzo Soprano (VIC) originally studied as a pianist and has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Melbourne and an Associate in Piano. She is currently studying Voice with Gary May. Selena has appeared in a number of roles with Melbourne Opera productions including Flora in La Traviata and Mercedes in Carmen She is a member of the Victorian Opera Chorus.
Brenton Spiteri: Tenor (VIC) is a graduate of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Whilst studying he was awarded the Dame Nellie Melba Prize, the Murray Ormond Vagg Scholarship, the Mona McCaughey Scholarship and the Muriel Cheek Scholarship. Performances include the premiere of ‘Kursk: An Oratorio Requiem’ (Melbourne Festival) and Melbourne season of Opera Australia’s ‘The Pearl Fishers’.
