The aim of the German-Australian Opera Grant is to promote
emerging Australian Opera Singers, who are in the early stage
of their professional career, i.e. the singers have finished
their principal singing education and have been able to gain
some experience over a short period of time of up to a few
years. Artists who have established their careers for longer
than this will not be considered as emerging artists for
the purpose of the grant.
The grant offers the winner a one-year employment (junior)
contract at the Wiesbaden Opera House in Germany plus 2 months
language course at a Goethe Institut in Germany as well as
a 1 month work experience at the Opera House to gain an insight
into the procedures prior to the official start.
The winner of
the first prize also receives the ALLCOLLINS prize,
a cheque over $4000 which will help in the preparation
stage for the time overseas. The prize is kindly donated
by an (anonymous) German
family with strong links to Australia and the operatic
arts.
Singers are encouraged to apply to be considered for
the one year employment contract. As the recipient will
become part of the professional ensemble in Wiesbaden from
mid/late August 2010 until July/August 2011, a well considered
choice has to be made.
The winner has to be in the position to leave Australia
for Germany in June 2010 to participate in a one month
work-experience at the Hessisches Staatstheater prior to
attending a two (2) months German language course at the
Goethe Institut. The winner remains in Germany until July/August
2011.
2nd Prize:
The second prize winner will receive $3000.
4th Prize: The fourth prize winner will receive $1000.
| 1. |
Applications:
Applications close 31st August 2009.
Late or incomplete entries may be accepted but only
at the judges' discretion. |
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| 2. |
The stages of the competition:
- At first a written personal application (personal
introduction), a curriculum vitae, a list
with all performed and studied roles (please
list in separate columns) together with the registration
forms submitted by the singer will be
considered. Please also send an electronic media
(Video/DVD/CD/Music Tape) recording (see details
below). This recording will then be analysed by
a preliminary judging panel.
As the applicants will probably not have direct contact with the judging panel
for the preselection it is essential that the information in the submitted application
is complete in all requirements and the applicant pays attention to the presentation.
The process of selection for this grant is multifaceted. It therefore differentiates
itself from a standard vocal competition. It may involve adjudicators requiring
to personally see an applicant in the preliminary selection stage. In that case
you will be asked to be auditioned in Melbourne in September 2009.
- Singers will be notified, by no later than early October, as to whether or not they qualify for entry into the Semi-Finals.
- Semi-Finals (being a competition): 12 selected
Semi-Finalists (6 male / 6 female voices) will
be auditioned on 13th November 2009 in Melba Hall,
University of Melbourne, for approx. 20 minutes
by an adjudication panel.
- In the morning, before the individual auditions start, there will be a one-hour stage workshop led by an opera director.
- The audition not only includes singing but also presentation, acting and working with a conductor. Contestants may be asked to sing an ensemble piece with another singer, for example, a member of the judging panel.
At the end of the day the 4 Finalists for the Finals Concert (held the following day) will be chosen.
- The Opera Finale (being a competition): four
selected Finalists (2 male / 2 female voices) present
two arias/excerpts of not more than twenty minutes
each before an audience of up to 400 people and
the adjudicators, who then make their decision.
The Finals Concert will be held in Federation Square
on 14 November 2009.
The Winner will present a program at an operatic (Farewell)
reception for sponsors of the Grant before departing
to Germany and another reception or “Master Class” upon
returning from Germany to give feedback on the overseas
experience.
The requirements for each stage of participation in the selection process are
set out below. |
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| 3. |
Age: As
a guide line for emerging singers an age limit applies
for female singers of a maximum of 32 years of age
and for male singers a maximum of 35 years of age.
The nature of the criteria will let the selection process
focus on the age group from the mid twenties to the
early thirty-year-olds. |
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| 4. |
How often
can Singers apply: Applicants can apply
for the Grant program up to three times during their
singing career. Applicants from previous years should
ensure that they have taken enough time to make improvements
and develop their skills further before applying
again. |
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| 5. |
Arias: Applicants must
be prepared to sing five (5) arias/excerpts from the
opera / operetta repertoire in the original languages
and keys in contrasting styles. Three (3) in German and
Two (2) in other languages. One aria must be a Mozart
aria. No aria should exceed 8 minutes in length. One
excerpt (in German) should be part of an ensemble (e.g.
the Trio from Die Zauberflöte). Arias/excerpts
are to be listed on the application form (including composers
and lengths) as well as on the recording. |
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| 6. |
What repertoire to choose:
As the grant aims at emerging artists, the applicant
is not expected to choose and perform huge and difficult
roles. The Grant panel advises to carefully choose
the right repertoire for the applicants’ voice.
However the adjudicators expect applicants to sing
their chosen arias at the highest level of performance.
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| 7. |
Artistic Qualification: Applicants
must have a voice with outstanding operatic potential,
artistic aptitude as well as a musical/acting/movement/language
background. Some operatic stage experience is essential. |
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| 8. |
Language: The
recipient will need to gain a sound knowledge of German
and must undertake intensive German language study
(2 months intensive German language course at a Goethe
Institut in Germany). However the singer already needs
to start his/her intensive studies immediately after
winning the grant (14 November 2009), especially if
he/she is not fluent in the German language, to enable
him/her to work in a German opera house environment. |
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| 9. |
Judging Criteria: Ability
of the candidate to perform at a high level on a day-to-day
basis in Wiesbaden as part of the professional ensemble.
Acting capacities may be examined during the auditioning
process. |
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| 10. |
Citizenship
Requirements: Applicants must be Australian
citizens. Proof of citizenship will be required with
the application. Applicants residing in Australia
with no former overseas posting are preferred over
applicants who have had an opportunity to sing with
an overseas opera house. |
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| 11. |
Accompanist: The
Official Accompanist will be available for the Finals,
if required. Applicants must have the music available
for all their listed arias/excerpts.
Music submitted for the official accompanist must be neat, clear and legible
with all cuts (where appropriate) clearly marked. Music must be bound or put
in a scrapbook. No plastic sleeves/ pages are to be used. Music must not infringe
the laws of copyright.
The administration of “MTO German-Australian Opera Grant” is to be
informed by the Semi-Finalists in case they would like to perform with the official
accompanist four (4) weeks prior to the finals. Finalists must contact the Official
Accompanist at least three (3) weeks prior to the finals to arrange their rehearsal
time and the music is to be sent to the Official Accompanist.
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| 12. |
Travel and Accommodation: In
some instances it may be necessary for Semi-Finalists
/ Finalists to travel to Melbourne on their own account.
Semi-Finalists will be offered accommodation with host
families in Melbourne if possible. MTO-GAOG will try
everything to keep costs for the singers as low as
possible. |
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| 13. |
Availability:
The recipient must agree to be available to depart
for Wiesbaden in June 2010, and to remain there for
fifteen (15) month (minus leave, which may occur
at the end of the period). The departure is scheduled
for early June 2010 as participation in the language
course and the opportunity to gain insight into the
Opera House, prior to the 12 month engagement, are
mandatory. This opportunity could only be foregone
if the singer is a fluent German speaker. Confirmation
of availability to spend the allotted time in Germany
will be required in writing from all applicants (by
signature on the application form). |
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| 14. |
In the event of
the recipient being approached during the term of the
contract to fulfil any engagement other than that stipulated
by the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, he/she must,
in the first instance, submit this request and relevant
details in writing to the German-Australian Opera Grant
administration, prior to initiating any approach to
the management of the Hessisches Staatstheater.
MTO-GAOG will assess the request and inform the recipient of its decision. |
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| 15. |
Entry Fee: Applications
must be accompanied by an entry fee of A$35 which is
non-refundable except in the event of cancellation
of the Grant competition. Cheques and Money Orders
should be made out to "More
than Opera Ltd". “More
than Opera Ltd” will not take responsibility
for cash sent through the mail. |
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| 16. |
Audition Recording: an
electronic media recording which may be a Video/DVD/
CD/Music Tape (no mini-disc can be accepted), will be
considered by a preliminary judging panel.
It must:
- Be no more than one year old.
- Be of the contestant singing three (3) contrasting
arias, one (1) sung in Italian and two (2) in German.
One aria must be a Mozart aria.
- The case must be labelled with name, address
and titles; the tape/DVD/CD itself labelled with
name and titles only.
- Quality is very critical.
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| 17. |
Recordings will only be returned at the conclusion of the competition if a suitable stamped self-addressed package is supplied. |
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| 18. |
Programs to be performed in the Semi-Finals/Finals,
giving the list of arias/excerpts, their length and
the key in which they will be sung, must be submitted
with entry for consideration by the judges who will
notify contestants if any change is required. One
aria must be a Mozart aria. |
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| 19. |
The Finals Concert will be held
on the 14 November 2009, 3pm at BMW Edge, Federation
Square, Melbourne. 4 Finalists (2 male
/ 2 female voices) will be chosen to perform in front
of an audience and an expert panel of musicians and
music administrators.
Singers’ programs must not exceed
20 minutes total performance time. |
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| 20. |
Germany and upon return an operatic
reception or “Master Class” to give
feedback about the overseas experience. He/she
is also asked to submit bimonthly e-mail reports
about his/her experiences working in Wiesbaden. |
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| 21. |
The Adjudicators’ decision
is final. No correspondence will be entered
into. Adjudicators may, at their discretion, withhold
the grant without explanation and give the grant
to any person they may determine. In the event a
winner is unable or unwilling to fulfil their grant
obligations, the adjudicators reserve the right to
rescind and/or re-award the grant. The Adjudication
Panel reserve the right to rescind, modify or add
to any of the rules and conditions of the competition
and the Judges’ interpretation shall be final. |
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| 21. |
Checklist. Application Forms are
to be completed in full, verified and sent with the
following:
- A personal application covering letter elaborating
why the Wiesbaden position would be an ideal match
for both the Hessisches Staatstheater and the candidate.
- A written CV of the singer which should include
dates and details of any future engagements. Please
give as much information as possible, stating clearly
which roles have been studied and which have actually
been performed, and where.
- A list of the repertoire
proposed for the Semi-Finals/Finals with the list
of arias/excerpts, their length, the composer, and
the key in which they will be sung.
- An electronic media recording (Video/DVD/CD/Music
Tape). Please note that Mini-Disks cannot be accepted.
- A professional photograph of moderate size and
quality of the singer should be enclosed. Alternatively
such a professional photo could be send as a jpg
file via email. (Social or party photos will not
be accepted.)
- An entry fee of $35 payable to "More than
Opera Ltd".
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| Please forward these to: |
Administration of More Than Opera
- German - Australian Opera Grant
P.O. Box 2160 MDC
Fitzroy, VIC 3065 |
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For inquiries Fax: (03) 9419 8873 Email: info@mto-gaog.com
Entries and repertoire sent by fax or e-mail only will not be accepted. However we would appreciate your short expression of interest via e-mail before receiving your full application. This will enable efficient processing of all applications. |
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