Alexandra Hills tenor Iain Henderson has won the prestigious Dame Joan Sutherland Award.
Henderson walked away with $15,000 given for his “top note and overall performance” in competition against five accomplished amateur opera singers in Noosa on July 22.
Iain also won the audience vote for the People’s Choice Award, winning a further $750. Hosted by Noosa Federation of the Arts, the competition is held every second year and is regional Australia’s richest and most prestigious opera award. It was founded to help further the careers of Australian opera singers aged 20-34 in all categories from soprano to bass.
Judge and NFA artistic director Brad Jarrett said Iain possessed a beautiful lyrical tenor voice, which allowed him to sing most of the romantic tenor roles in the opera repertoire.
“Iain easily reached and held the top C in Che gelida manina, which is the climax of the aria and always excites the audience if sung well,” Mr Jarrett said.
“His rendition of the serenade from The Student Prince really struck a chord with the audience and I think took them back to the days of Mario Lanza.”
Henderson said he was “shocked and honoured” to win because of the high calibre of the performers. It was Henderson’s second shot at the top title, after making it to the finals in 2014.
“It’s the only opera prize like it in Queensland and the recognition from the name of the award, Dame Joan Sutherland, will open doors for me, particularly overseas. It’s taken a big load off my shoulders financially, giving me the freedom to pursue my goals and aspirations,” Henderson said.
After graduating later this year with a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium, Henderson plans to enrol in a Masters of Music in the UK at either the Royal Academy of Music (London), the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) or the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
“I also intend also to enrol in a Young Artist Program with a major company, either The Metropolitan Opera (New York), the Royal Opera House (London) or the Merola Opera Program (San Francisco) and pursue a full professional operatic career,” Henderson said.
Soprano Tabatha McFadyen (Wentworth Falls, NSW) came a very close second winning the Margreta Elkins Award of $4000. The patron of the award was one of the original judges of the competition until her death in 2009.
One of the judges was Victoria Point bass Andrew Collis.
