Applications: Applications close 15th August 2008. Late or incomplete entries may be accepted but only at the judges' discretion.

The stages of the competition:

• At first a personal application (personal introduction), a curriculum vitae, a list with all performed and studied roles (please use formatted template available under registration forms) 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.
  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 2008.

• 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 14th November 2008 in central 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.

• Finals Concert (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 and the judges, who then make their decision.
  The Finals Concert will be held in Federation Square on 15 November 2008.

The Winner will present a program at an operatic reception for sponsors of the Grant before departing to Germany (Farewell Reception) 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.

Age: No age limit applies. The nature of the criteria will however let the selection process focus on the age group from the late twenties to the early to mid thirty-year-olds.

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.

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). Ideally the singer already starts his/her intensive studies straight after winning the grant (15 December 2008).

Arias: Applicants must be prepared to sing five (5) arias/excerpts from the opera and 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).

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 (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. The music is to be sent to the Official Accompanist three (3) weeks prior to the finals

Travel and Accommodation: In some instances it may be necessary for Semi-Finalists / Finalists to travel to Melbourne on their own account.
Semi-Finalists and potentially Finalists will be offered accommodation with host families in Melbourne. More Than Opera, German-Australian Opera Grant will try everything to keep costs for the singers as low as possible.

Availability:The recipient must agree to be available to depart for Wiesbaden in June 2009, 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 2009 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).

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 Administration of the German-Australian Opera Grant, prior to initiating any approach to the management of the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden. MTO-GAOG will assess the request and inform the recipient of its decision.

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.

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.

The recipient of the grant incurs the obligation to perform at 2 events without remuneration: an operatic reception for Sponsors of the Grant before leaving for 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.

The Judges' decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. Judges 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 Judges 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.