Young Artist Program

Background - Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program

More than 100 artists have been through the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program – named in honour of Oxenbould’s commitment to developing Australian talent – since its inception in 1984.

Among the “graduates” of this Program are Lisa Gasteen, Emma Matthews, Amelia Farrugia, Tiffany Speight and Nicole Youl as well as conductors Antony Walker and Simon Hewett all of whom have made significant contributions to operatic performance in Australia since that time.

In 2009 the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program comprises five young Australians: soprano Amy Wilkinson (pictured with Gabor Bretz performing Zerlina in 2008 Don Giovanni), tenor Stephen Smith, baritone Andrew Moran and conductor Christopher van Tuinen who joined the Program in 2008 and newcomer David Corcoran, a tenor, who has performed with the Opera Australia Chorus since 2005 and performed in Oz Opera’s touring production of Madame Butterfly in the lead role of Pinkerton throughout 2008.  

Opera Australia’s Chief Executive Adrian Collette has announced that the national opera company will undertake a public Australia-wide search for participants to join the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program in 2010.

Auditions will be held in Perth (4 July), Adelaide (5 July), Melbourne (11 July), Brisbane (12 July AM) and Sydney (12 July PM) with the successful auditionees invited to attend a Young Artists Program Preparation Workshop in Sydney on July 18 & 19.

The final audition will take place in front of an audience in the Opera Theatre of the Sydney Opera House at 7.30pm on July 19, 2009. A selection panel including internationally renowned opera singers Yvonne Kenny and Peter Coleman-Wright as well as Opera Australia artistic and music staff Tony Legge, Ian McCahon and Andrew Greene will determine who will join the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program in 2010.

Interested applicants can download an application here. Applications close at 5pm on June 12, 2009.