The Marianne Mathy Scholarship ('THE MATHY')
AUD $30,000 to assist with a program of study and/or singing activity
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono
The 2023 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Final was held on 31 August at The Concourse Concert Hall.
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono was named the winner of the Marianne Mathy Scholarship after his stunning performances of “Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön” from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte , and “Ah leve toi soleil” from Roméo et Juliette by Gounod. He was accompanied by the Opera Australia Orchestra conducted by Maestro Vladimir Fanshil.
At the 2023 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Emmanuel won:

Emmanuel also received:
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.
2. Lili Ussher Portrait Prize: a painting of the winner in concert dress.
3. 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.
4. The Mathy: a limited-edition Drago Marin Cherina sculpture presented by Music & Opera Singers Trust Ltd (MOST®).
5. The WinkiPop Media Prize: photographic prints of the winner at the Finals Concert.
Congratulations to Our Other Prize Winners

Michaela was awarded:
MOST® Audience Prize
Saluzzo Opera Academy Scholarship
Merenda Travel Prize

Cassandra was awarded:
Canadian Vocal Arts Institute Scholarship
Nell Pascall Award
Zeke Solomon Prize
Nicole Car Prize

Ellena was awarded:
Royal Northern College of Music Award
Pasqualina Lipari Prize

Yvette was awarded:
Merenda Legacy Prize
2023 Finalists

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

Michaela Cadwgan
Soprano, 25, NZ
Wellington based soprano Michaela Cadwgan completed her BMus(Hons) in 2020 with First Class Honours under the tutelage of Dr. Margaret Medlyn, Wade Kernot, Dr. Jenny Wollerman and Bruce Greenfield, alongside completing a BA in German and Italian at Victoria University of Wellington.
She is an alumna of the New Zealand Opera School which she attended in January 2020. In 2019 she performed the title role of Suor Angelica in the NZSM Puccini double bill and in recent years, has collaborated as soloist with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO at Te Papa 2020), Wellington Orchestra (Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the New Zealand premiere of Schumann’s Scenes from Faust), Kapiti Concert Orchestra, and is a member of both the New Zealand Opera Chorus and Wellington Opera Chorus.
Michaela has won the Wellington Regional Aria Competition (2021), and in November of 2022 Michaela was awarded runner-up at The Lockwood New Zealand Aria final.

Cassandra Doyle
Mezzo Soprano, 22, NSW
Cassandra Doyle is a mezzo-soprano in her final year of a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying voice with Maree Ryan AM. A graduate of the Conservatorium High School, Cassandra has been a recipient of the Patricia Bell Grant, Patricia Long Scholarship and George Henderson Travelling Scholarship, Istituto Italiano di Cultura Award (IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition, 2022) and awarded 2nd Prize in the Sydney International Song Prize (JSRB Foundation, 2022).
Her performed roles include Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck), Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart), Ino in Semele, Irene in Theodora (Handel) and Madame Frida in Max and Moritz (Draguns). Her concert soloist repertoire includes Requiem Op. 48 (Fauré), Rückert-Lieder (Mahler), Messiah (Handel), Requiem in D minor (Mozart), Ascension Oratorio BWV 11 (J.S. Bach), Magnificat RV. 611 (Vivaldi), Messe di Minuit (Charpentier), Petit Messe Solenelle (Rossini), Stabat Mater (Pergolesi), Requiem Op.9 (Duruflé), Lamentationes Jeremiae Prophetae(Duranté) and Nelson Mass (Haydn).

Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono
Tenor, 25, NZ
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono is a twenty-five-year-old Samoan tenor from Flaxmere, Hastings.
Emmanuel was part of a youth initiative called “Project Prima Volta” in high school. After learning through PPV, he continued singing at the University of Waikato. He is currently completing his Masters’ at the University of Waikato under the new programme called Te Pae Kōkako – The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio.
Emmanuel attended the New Zealand Opera School in Whanganui in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, where he was awarded the DMMF Award and the Guy and Susie Haddleton Scholarship. Emmanuel won the Lockwood New Zealand Aria Competition and made the Lexus Song Quest Finals winning the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Scholarship for Potential. Earlier this year, he won the inaugural Tarling Aria Competition in Auckland.
Emmanuel played the role of Malcolm in New Zealand Opera’s production of Macbeth and also the role of Tupaia in Tim Finn’s Ihitai ‘Avei’a – The Star Navigator.

Ellena Hicks
Mezzo Soprano, 23, NSW
Ellena is currently studying a Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) with Dr. Rowena Cowley. In 2023, she will make her role debut as Ottone in L’incoronazione di Poppea. She has performed the roles of Secrecy, Mopsa and Summer in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. She was an alto scholar at St Stephen’s Uniting Church. Her solo performances include Leonard Bernstein’s song cycle I Hate Music with the Orange Youth Orchestra and an excerpt from Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo in the Spanish Music Festival Encuentros Espanoles 2022. She has been excited to returned home to Orange to perform as the alto soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia with the Orange Symphony Orchestra and Handel’s Messiah with Allegri Singers and Orange Regional Conservatorium. She has also performed as an alto soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Sydney Conservatorium Big Choir and Handel’s Messiah with Radio Community Chest in Sydney’s Town Hall.

Yvette Keong
Soprano, 25, NSW
In 2020 as a response to the Covid-19 outbreak, Music & Opera Singers Trust Ltd. (MOST)established the online singing competition, ASC@Home, for singers over the age of 18 from around the world.
ASC@Home was run entirely online and supported stay-at-home measures in force around the world by requiring all entries to be recorded in a home environment by a solo singer. To help as many people to get involved as possible, and to provide no barrier for any talented singer to enter, there is no entry fee, nor any charge to vote in the Competition. Singers simply needed to fill out an entry form, record a video entry and share it on YouTube. All entries were judged by an internationally-renowned industry professional who chose the winner in their category. Cash prizes of USD$1,000 were awarded to first place winners in each of the four categories: Classical and Opera; Musical Theatre; Contemporary (Rock & Pop); and, Jazz. An additional $500USD went go to the winner of the audience-choice vote.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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