2026 MARIANNE MATHY SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Hannah Burton
The 2026 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert was held on 8 October at The Concourse Concert Hall.
Hannah Burton was named the winner of the Mariane Mathy Scholarship after her performances of Crudele … non mi dir from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” and O dieu … Ah, je ris de me voir from Gounod’s “Faust”. She was accompianied by the Opera Australia Orchestra conducted by Professor Dr Nicholas Milton AM.
At the 2026 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition, Hannah won:
The Marianne Mathy Scholarship (‘THE MATHY’) AUD $30,000 to assist with a program of study and/or singing activity.
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.
Lili Ussher Portrait Prize: a painting of the winner in concert dress.
Simon Fieldhouse Sculpture Prize: 3D sculpture of the Winner in concert dress.
Oral History Award: a taped interview by oral historian Diana Ritch will be recorded and retained within the Oral History Collection of the National Library of Australia.
The Mathy Statuette: a limited-edition Drago Marin Cherina sculpture presented by Music & Opera Singers Trust Ltd (MOST®).
The WinkiPop Media Prize: photographic prints of the winner at the Finals Concert.
As well as the Marianne Mathy Scholarship and the suite of accompanying prizes listed above, Hannah also won:
ABC Classic Studio Recording Prize: the opportunity to record a studio project at the ABC, guided by the ABC Classic specialist music production team. The studio project will be featured on ABC Classic radio station, Australia’s only national classical network, and will be made available to audiences around the world through digital platforms.
Zeny Edwards Educational Grant: AUD $20,000 grant towards tuition fees for a music degree at a University or Conservatorium.
MOST® Audience Prize: AUD $500 cash grant from Music & Opera Singers Trust Ltd. (MOST®) awarded by audience vote.
Congratulations to our other prize winners
Aylish Ryan
Merenda Legacy Prize
Perth Symphony Orchestra Prize
PSO Travel Grant
2MBS Promotional Prize
Emily Davis
Haas German Mentorship Award
The Haas Award
Elizabeth Todd Memorial Prize
Sky Kim
Royal Northern College of Music Award
Pasqualina Lipari Prize
Leyland Jones
Canadian Vocal Arts Institute Scholarship
CVAI Travel Grant
Linnhe Robertson Prize
Nell Pascall Award
Each Finalist also received the Opera Australia Finalist Audition Prize (for the OA Young Artist Program), the Opera Australia Prize, and two bottles of Huntington Estate Wine.
2026 Finalists
Adjudicators are continually impressed by the high standard overall, and the exceptional technical ability and maturity displayed by these young musicians.
From Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC
A generous letter of support to our five Finalists ahead of the 2026 Finals.
Hannah Burton
Soprano 25, NSW
Hannah Burton, originally from Kootingal, NSW, is in her final year of a Master of Music Studies (Operatic Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She graduated with First Class Honours and High Distinction in Classical Voice, studying under Maree Ryan AM. In 2024, Hannah was a Young Artist with the Pacific Opera Studio where she performed roles including Adele (Die Fledermaus) and the title role in Thaïs (Opera Scenes). Other operatic roles include Emilie (Émilie), First Witch (Dido and Aeneas), Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel), Moth (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Diana (Orpheé aux enfer). Her concert credits as a soprano soloist include Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, Mozart’s Great Mass, Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.
In 2019, Hannah worked with Opera Australia as a Regional Vocal Scholar. She has worked in masterclasses with Graham Johnson OBE, Roderick Williams OBE, Brett Weymark OAM and others. Hannah was thrilled to debut as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Prague Summer Nights in Vienna, and is returning to PSN as Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, in Prague at the Estates Theatre in 2026.
Emily Davis
Soprano 24, WA
Emily Davis is a soprano and a Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) 2023 graduate. Recent roles include Adelaide from Dove’s The Enchanted Pig and Dorabella from Mozart’s Così fan tutte.
Emily was the 2023 Recipient for the Dame Mary Gilmore Award for the most promising graduating female classical voice student at WAAPA and was runner-up in the 2023 Richard Gill Award. She was a finalist in the 2022 Taryn Fiebig Award, as well as the 2022 and 2023 Opera Lovers Aria competition. Emily was also named overall best senior vocalist and best overall senior performer at the 2025 Fremantle Eisteddfod.
She currently sings with WA Opera Lovers as a resident artist and enjoys working as a freelance musician, teacher and choir director while completing her Honours in Classical Voice at the University of Western Australia (UWA).
Leyland Jones
Bass 23, VIC
Leyland Jones is a Bass and Multi-Instrumentalist based in Melbourne and is currently studying a Master of Music (Opera Performance) at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. He has performed operatic roles with Victorian Opera, BK Opera and at the Conservatorium. Leyland has performed in numerous Australian premieres and toured Europe and the UK with The Choir of Trinity College, Melbourne. He has also been a guest soloist of The Port Fairy Spring Music Festival. His roles include Masetto in Don Giovanni, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte and Seneca in L’incoronazione di Poppea. In 2026 Leyland performs in Weill’s Das Kleine Mahagonny and Handel’s Xerxes with the Conservatorium and covers The Pudding in The Magic Pudding with Victorian Opera.
Sky (Haneul) Kim
Soprano 25, NSW
Sky is a Korean-Australian soprano with a special passion for coloratura repertoire. She holds a Bachelor of Music of Music Performance (Classical Voice) from the Queensland Conservatorium, and is currently completing a Master of Music Studies, Opera Performance, studying with Dr Rowena Cowley.
Sky has performed roles such as Tytania (Britten) Marie (Donizetti), both Giannetta and Adina (Donizetti) and Cupidon (Offenbach). In concert, she presented as one of The Seven Sopranos, performed as a soloist with Springboard Opera, and as a soloist at the For Good Campaign in Sydney Town Hall.
Recently, Sky performed as La Marchesa in Niccolò Piccinni’s La buona figliuola with the Early Music Ensemble under the baton of Erin Helyard, and she looks forward to performing the role of Königin der Nacht at the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in June.
Aylish Ryan
Mezzo-soprano 23, QLD
Hailing from Toowoomba, mezzo-soprano Aylish Ryan is a 2026 Melba Opera Trust artist. In 2024, she completed a Bachelor of Music degree at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, graduating with distinction. She was an artist in the Lisa Gasteen National Opera Program (2023 and 2024) and, in 2025, joined the Opera Queensland Young Artist Program. That year, she also travelled to Italy for the Andrea Bocelli Foundation Masterclass di Alto Perfezionamento in Canto Lirico. Her awards include the Opera Australia Regional Vocal Scholarship, Professor Emeritus Jan Delpratt AM Prize, and Sir Mostyn Hanger Opera Prize. Role highlights include Orfeo (Gluck) in both Val Machin Opera Scenes: Orpheus! and Underworld: A Journey to Hell and Back, Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance and the Mistress of the Novices in Suor Angelica.
Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programmes
Previous Winners & Finalists
2020 - 2025
2025
- Winner – Sidra Nissen, MEZZO SOPRANO, 23, VIC
- Finalist – Sophie Blades, SOPRANO, 24, NSW
- Finalist – Aidan Hodder, BARITONE, 25, VIC
- Finalist – Brittney Northcott, MEZZO SOPRANO, 24, VIC
- Finalist – Wesley Haotian Yu, TENOR, 23, NSW
2024
- Winner – Eden Shifroni, SOPRANO, NSW
- Finalist – Georgia Cooper, SOPRANO, NSW
- Finalist – Jake Lyle, BARITONE, QLD
- Finalist – Ariana Ricci, SOPRANO, NSW
- Finalist – Molly Ryan, SOPRANO, NSW
2023
- Winner – Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, TENOR, NZ
- Finalist – Michael Cadwgan, SOPRANO, NZ
- Finalist – Cassandra Doyle, MEZZO SOPRANO, NSW
- Finalist – Ellena Hicks MEZZO SOPRANO, NSW
- Finalist – Yvette Keong, SOPRANO, NSW
2022
- Winner – Jeremy Boulton, BARITONE, NSW
- Finalist – Kristin Astouroghlian, MEZZO SOPRANO, VIC
- Finalist – Jake Bigwood, BASS, WA
- Finalist – Billie Tumarkin, SOPRANO, VIC
- Finalist – Younji Yi, SOPRANO, NSW
2021
- Cancelled due to pandemic.
2020
- Cancelled due to pandemic.
2010 - 2019
2019
- Winner – Manase Latu, TENOR, NZ
- Finalist – Bianca Bacchiella, SOPRANO, QLD
- Finalist – Josi Ann Ellem, SOPRANO, NSW
- Finalist – Rebecca Hart, MEZZO SOPRANO, NSW
- Finalist – Samson Setu, BASS BARITONE, NZ
2018
- Winner – Zoe Drummond, SOPRANO, NSW
- Finalist – Cleo Lee-McGowan, SOPRANO, VIC
- Finalist – Katherine McIndoe, SOPRANO, UK
- Finalist – Pasquale Orchard, SOPRANO, NZ
- Finalist – Tristan Entwistle, BARITONE, NSW
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, QLD
- Finalist – Hannah Dahenburg, SOPRANO. VIC
- Finalist – Alexander Knight, BARITONE, NSW
- Finalist – Edward Laurenson, BARITONE, NZ
- Finalist – Danita Weatherstone, SOPRANO, NSW
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 Lampard, 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