The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition evolved from the Marianne Mathy Scholarship, which was established through a bequest made in the will of Marianne Mathy-Frisdane, an operatic soprano and distinguished teacher who trained many well-known Australian singers. Recognised as Australasia’s richest competition for opera and classical singing, in just over three decades some 2,600 singers have entered the Competition and won approaching $3 million in prizes, plus many career opportunities (not including the ASC Contemporary Section) have been awarded.

The Marianne Mathy Scholarship remains the premier award of the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition. This is currently valued in excess of $50,000 – comprised of a select suite of prizes and opportunities that complement and support the Scholarship, which includes the limited edition Drago Marin Cherina bronze statuette known as ‘The Mathy.’ The Marianne Mathy Scholarship and the Competition are managed and administered by Music & Opera Singers Trust Limited (MOST®), a not-for-profit organisation that provides professional services for competitions, events, scholarships, prizes, awards and grants.  

Address by His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir Zelman Cowen, AK, GCMG, GCVO, K.St.J, QC. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on the Occasion of the Launching of the Marianne Mathy Scholarship in the Melbourne Room, Wentworth Hotel, Sydney. Tuesday, 2 March 1982

Inaugural Address by The Right Honourable Sir Zelman Cowwn, AK, GCMG, GCVO, K.St.J, QC. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (2 March 1982)

In 1983 MOST® made the decision to promote the Marianne Mathy Scholarship as a competition for young opera and classical singers, and to establish a separate section for contemporary singers. Both sections were to come under the umbrella of the ‘Australian Singing Competition’. ‘The Mathy’ was the premier award of the Opera & Classical Section. From 1985 the ‘Grace Bros Prize’ was the major prize within the Contemporary Section. From 1985 to 1989 both sections ran parallel to but separate from one another under the banner ‘Australian Singing Competition’. The Contemporary Section of the ASC proved a popular success, but sadly was suspended in 1990 (see history, right). Today, ‘The Mathy’ remains the premier award of the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition. Over the decades the Australian Singing Competition has evolved to consist of many scholarships, awards, prizes and career opportunities – all aimed at supporting the career development of young Australian and New Zealand opera and classical singers. Over the years these have included the Handa Prize, the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Award, the Foster Award, YMF Award, opportunities at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester – to name but a few.

Prizes & Opportunities