Discovering Australia's most promising young classical singers

Participants & Winners

2026 Finalists

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

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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.

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Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programmes

2025 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2024 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2023 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2022 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2019 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2018 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2017 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2016 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2015 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2014 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2013 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2012 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2011 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2010 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
2009 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert Programme
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Previous Winners & Finalists
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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Cancelled due to pandemic.
  • Cancelled due to pandemic.
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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Winner – Anna Dowsley, MEZZO SOPRANO,
  • Finalist – Thomas Atkins, TENOR
  • Finalist – Charlotte Betts-Dean, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Jeremy Kleeman, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist – Tabatha McFadyen, SOPRANO
  • Winner – Emma Moore, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Naomi Johns, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Morgan Pearse, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist – Gérard Schneider, TENOR
  • Finalist – Bryony Williams, SOPRANO
  • Winner – Rachel Bate, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Kiandra Howarth, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Eleanor Lyons, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Ryan Sharp, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist – Kang Wang, TENOR
2009
  • Winner – Sam Roberts-Smith, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Hadleigh Adams, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist – Jade Moffat, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Samuel Sakker, TENOR
  • Finalist – Lachlan Scott, BASS
  • Winner – Sitiveni Talei, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Nicole Car, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Sky Ingram, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Michael Lampard, BARITONE
  • Winner – Emily Blanch, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Natalie Aroyan, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Mary-Jean O’Doherty, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Helen Sherman, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Victoria Wallace, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Winner – Duncan Rock, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Lauren Easton, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Andrew Finden, BARITONE
  • Finalist – James Homann, BASS BARITONE
  • Finalist – Michael Lampard, BARITONE
  • Winner – Anita Watson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Lucinda-Mirikata Deacon,SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Mylinda Joyce, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Derek Welton, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Carmen Young, SOPRANO
  • Winner – Emma Pearson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Andrew Goodwin, TENOR
  • Finalist – Andrew Moran, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Paul O’Neill, TENOR
  • Finalist – Barbara Zavros, SOPRANO
  • 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
  • Winner – Katharine Tier, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Brad Cooper, TENOR
  • Finalist – Celeste Lazarenko, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Gilliam Ramm, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Caroline Wenborne, SOPRANO
  • Winner – Rejieli Shepherd-Paulo, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Lorina Gore, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Alexander Lewis, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Dominica Matthews, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Katrina Waters, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Winner – Rachelle Durkin, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Joshua Bloom, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Martene Grimson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Jocelyn Hickey, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Spencer Silby-Ainuutuimaseve, TENOR
1999
  • Winner – Janette Zilioli, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Adrian Dwyer, TENOR
  • Finalist – Blake Fischer, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Sally McHugh, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Melinda Parsons, SOPRANO
  • Winner – Göknur Ray, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Caroline Chown, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Daniella Ehrlich, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Blake Fischer, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Michael Smallwood, TENOR
  • Winner – Alexandra Sherman, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Spencer Silby, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Marija Stojakovic, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Rohan Thatcher, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Leon Warnock, BARITONE
  • Winner – Rebecca Nash, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Joshua Bloom, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Leslie Flanagan, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Shelli Gilhome, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Sarah Hills, SOPRANO
  • Winner – Natalie Christie, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Leanne Kenneally, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Anthony Elek, TENOR
  • Finalist – Katherine Rekaris, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Joslyn Rechter, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • 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
  • Winner – Amelia Farrugia, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Tobias Cole, COUNTER TENOR
  • Finalist – Sarah Hills, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Sally-Anne Russell, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Christopher Saunders, TENOR
  • Winner – Jason Barry-Smith, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Angus Wood, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Rodney Gilchrist, SOPRANIST
  • Finalist – Lotte Latukefu, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Christopher Saunders, TENOR
  • Winner – Stuart Skelton, TENOR
  • Finalist – Richard Sims, BASS
  • Finalist – Tiffany Speight, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Jeremy Vinogradov, BARITONE
  • Winner – Christina Wilson, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Janelle Colquhoun, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Annabella Redman, SOPRANO
1989
  • Winner – Clare Gormley, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Helen Donaldson, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Maria Pollicina, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Linda Thompson, SOPRANO
  • Winner – Joanna Cole, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Penelope Brister, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Clare Gormley, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Daniel Sumegi, BASS
  • Winner – Paul Whelan, BASS
  • Finalist – Bronwyn Clark, MEZZO SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Anne Fisch, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Michael Martin, BARITONE
  • Finalist – Daniel Sumegi, BASS
  • Winner – Fiona Janes, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Glenn Flavin, BASS
  • Finalist – Sharon Prero, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Margaret Schindler, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Ian Vayne, BARITONE
  • 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
  • Winner – Miriam Gormley, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Pauline Dwyer, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Fiona Maconaghie, SOPRANO
  • Finalist – Gregory Tomlinson, TENOR
  • 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
  • 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
Music & Opera Singers Trust © 2026