2017 Winner: Filipe Manu

Tenor
New Zealand

The 2017 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition was held on 15 July at The Concourse Concert Hall in Sydney.

Filipe Manu was named the winner of the Marianne Mathy Scholarship after his stunning performances of Ah mes amis; Pour mon âme and Pastorello d’un povero armento accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dr. Nicholas Milton.

At the 2017 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Filipe Manu won:

The Marianne Mathy Scholarship ('THE MATHY')
AUD $30,000 to assist with a program of study and/or singing activity
The winner of The Mathy will also receive:
1. Audition Prize from Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Opera Center: an opportunity to audition for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s professional-artist development program, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, in Chicago. Date to be mutually agreed upon; singer responsible for travel and lodging.
2. Fine Music 102.5 Recording Session - One-hour studio recording from Fine Music 102.5.
3. Lili Ussher Prize Portrait painting of the winner in concert dress.
4. Oral History Award Taped interview by oral historian Diana Ritch will be recorded and retained within the Oral History Collection of the National Library of Australia.
5. The Mathy Limited edition Drago Marin Cherina sculpture presented by Music & Opera Singers Trust Ltd (MOST®).

Filipe received a Bachelor of Music (BMus), majoring in Classical Performance at the University of Waikato under the tutelage of Dame Malvina Major. Filipe’s accolades include:
Runner-up in the Lexus Song Quest
Recording on Dame Kiri Te Kanawa’s Album of Maori Songs
Sir Edmund Hillary Scholar
Gina Sanders Trophy Winner
Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand Inc (PACANZ) – National Performer of the Year – Vocal Section

In September 2017, Filipe will start his studies at the Guildhall School of Music in London in the Opera Studies stream where he will learn from Yvonne Kenny.

Tenor Filipe Manu performs "Ah mes amis; Pour mon âme" from Donizetti's "La fille du régiment" at the Finals Concert of the 2017 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition.

2016 Marianne Mathy Scholarship Winner, Nicholas Tolputt

Finalists

Our finalists demonstrate the promising future and continued excellence of Australian music.

Adjudicators are continually impressed by the high standard overall, and the exceptional technical ability and maturity displayed by these young musicians.

Previous Winners & Finalists
2010 - 2020
2017
  • Winner - Filipe Manu, TENOR, NZ
  • Finalist - Damian Arnold, TENOR, NSW
  • Finalist - Daniel Carison, BARITONE, VIC
  • Finalist - Paull-Anthony Keightley, BASS BARITONE, WA
  • Finalist - Shikara Ringdahl, MEZZO SOPRANO, QLD
2016
  • Winner - Nicholas Tolputt, COUNTER TENOR, NSW
  • Finalist - Morgan Balfour, SOPRANO, NSW
  • Finalist - Eliza Boom, SOPRANO, NZ
  • Finalist - Jarvis Dams, BARITONE, NZ
  • Finalist - Sarah Wang, SOPRANO, NSW
2015
  • Winner - Maximilian Riebl, COUNTER TENOR, VIC
  • Finalist - Damian Arnold, TENOR, NSW
  • Finalist - Rebecca Gulinello, SOPRANO VIC
  • Finalist - Jeremy Kleeman, BASS BARITONE, VIC
  • Finalist - Benson Wilson, BARITONE, NZ
2014
  • Winner - Isabella Moore, SOPRANO, NZ
  • Finalist - Kate Amos, SOPRANO, VIC
  • Finalist - Samantha Clarke, SOPRANO, WA
  • Finalist - Corrine Cowling, SOPRANO, WA
  • Finalist - Anna Voshege, SOPRANO, VIC
2013
  • Winner - Jade Moffat, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Hannah Dahenburg, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Alexander Knight, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Edward Laurenson, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Danita Weatherstone, SOPRANO
2012
  • Winner - Anna Dowsley, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Thomas Atkins, TENOR
  • Finalist - Charlotte Betts-Dean, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Jeremy Kleeman, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist - Tabatha McFadyen, SOPRANO
2011
  • Winner - Emma Moore, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Naomi Johns, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Morgan Pearse, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist - Gérard Schneider, TENOR
  • Finalist - Bryony Williams, SOPRANO
2010
  • Winner - Rachel Bate, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Kiandra Howarth, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Eleanor Lyons, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Ryan Sharp, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist - Kang Wang, TENOR
2000 - 2009
2009
  • Winner - Sam Roberts-Smith, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Hadleigh Adams, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist - Jade Moffat, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Samuel Sakker, TENOR
  • Finalist - Lachlan Scott, BASS
2008
  • Winner - Sitiveni Talei, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Nicole Car, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Sky Ingram, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Michael Lampart, BARITONE
2007
  • Winner - Emily Blanch, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Natalie Aroyan, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Mary-Jean O'Doherty, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Helen Sherman, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Victoria Wallace, MEZZO SOPRANO
2006
  • Winner - Duncan Rock, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Lauren Easton, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Andrew Finden, BARITONE
  • Finalist - James Homann, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist - Michael Lampard, BARITONE
2005
  • Winner - Anita Watson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Lucinda-Mirikata Deacon,SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Mylinda Joyce, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Derek Welton, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Carmen Young, SOPRANO
2004
  • Winner - Emma Pearson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Andrew Goodwin, TENOR
  • Finalist - Andrew Moran, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Paul O'Neill, TENOR
  • Finalist - Barbara Zavros, SOPRANO
2003
  • Winner - Jessica Pratt, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Tanith Bryce, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Mark Fowler, TENOR
  • Finalist - David Hansen, COUNTER TENOR
  • Finalist - Melinda van der Meulen, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Elena Xanthoudakis, SOPRANO
2002
  • Winner - Katharine Tier, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Brad Cooper, TENOR
  • Finalist - Celeste Lazarenko, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Gilliam Ramm, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Caroline Wenborne, SOPRANO
2001
  • Winner - Rejieli Shepherd-Paulo, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Lorina Gore, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Alexander Lewis, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Dominica Matthews, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Katrina Waters, MEZZO SOPRANO
2000
  • Winner - Rachelle Durkin, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Joshua Bloom, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Martene Grimson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Jocelyn Hickey, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Spencer Silby-Ainuutuimaseve, TENOR
1990 - 1999
1999
  • Winner - Janette Zilioli, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Adrian Dwyer, TENOR
  • Finalist - Blake Fischer, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Sally McHugh, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Melinda Parsons, SOPRANO
1998
  • Winner - Göknur Ray, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Caroline Chown, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Daniella Ehrlich, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Blake Fischer, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Michael Smallwood, TENOR
1997
  • Winner - Alexandra Sherman, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Spencer Silby, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Marija Stojakovic, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Rohan Thatcher, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Leon Warnock, BARITONE
1996
  • Winner - Rebecca Nash, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Joshua Bloom, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Leslie Flanagan, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Shelli Gilhome, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Sarah Hills, SOPRANO
1995
  • Winner - Natalie Christie, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Leanne Kenneally, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Anthony Elek, TENOR
  • Finalist - Katherine Rekaris, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Joslyn Rechter, MEZZO SOPRANO
1994
  • Winner - David Quah, TENOR
  • Finalist - Anthony Elek, TENOR
  • Finalist - Natalie Jones, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Emma Lysons, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Lisa Russell, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Anna Ryberg, MEZZO SOPRANO
1993
  • Winner - Amelia Farrugia, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Tobias Cole, COUNTER TENOR
  • Finalist - Sarah Hills, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Sally-Anne Russell, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Christopher Saunders, TENOR
1992
  • Winner - Jason Barry-Smith, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Angus Wood, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Rodney Gilchrist, SOPRANIST
  • Finalist - Lotte Latukefu, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Christopher Saunders, TENOR
1991
  • Winner - Stuart Skelton, TENOR
  • Finalist - Richard Sims, BASS
  • Finalist - Tiffany Speight, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Jeremy Vinogradov, BARITONE
1990
  • Winner - Christina Wilson, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Janelle Colquhoun, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Annabella Redman, SOPRANO
1982 - 1989
1989
  • Winner - Clare Gormley, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Helen Donaldson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Maria Pollicina, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Linda Thompson, SOPRANO
1988
  • Winner - Joanna Cole, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Penelope Brister, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Clare Gormley, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Daniel Sumegi, BASS
1987
  • Winner - Paul Whelan, BASS
  • Finalist - Bronwyn Clark, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Anne Fisch, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Michael Martin, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Daniel Sumegi, BASS
1986
  • Winner - Fiona Janes, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Glenn Flavin, BASS
  • Finalist - Sharon Prero, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Margaret Schindler, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Ian Vayne, BARITONE
1985
  • Winner - David Lemke, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Julian Anderton, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Donna Balson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Roxane Hislop, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Michael Howard, TENOR
  • Finalist - San-Ky Kim, TENOR
1984
  • Winner - Miriam Gormley, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Pauline Dwyer, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Fiona Maconaghie, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Gregory Tomlinson, TENOR
1983
  • Winner - Jeffrey Black, BARITONE
  • Finalist - John Antoniou, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Louise Camens, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Miriam Gormley, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Min Ok Choi, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Deborah Riedel, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Margaret Schindler, SOPRANO
1982
  • Winner - Nicola Waite, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - Jeffrey Black, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Christopher Bogg, TENOR
  • Finalist - Lisa Gasteen, SOPRANO
  • Finalist - David O'Keeffe, BARITONE
  • Finalist - Min Ok Choi, SOPRANO