It was a close competition between six finalists on Sunday night, however Oliver Boyd of Collingwood Park, QLD has won this year’s Patricia Fagan Operatic Aria Solo Championship at the Cowra Eisteddfod.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Boyd took home the main prize of $8000, ahead of Rachel Long from Bathurst, who won $3000 and the third placed Joshua Oxley from Lane Cove North NSW, who received $2000.
Tessa Hayward of Ultimo came in fourth place, Samantha Lestavel of Sydney placed fifth and Louise Keast of Warrnambool, VIC placed sixth.
One of the Vice Presidents of the Cowra Eisteddfod Committee, Mrs Mary-ann Wright, said the singers use the Cowra Eisteddfod to further their careers.
“Oliver Boyd has been accepted into an opera school in Germany later in the year,” she said.
“A lot of them come to compete to further their studies in Europe and the prize money helps get them there.”
Mr Boyd also took out the the Musical Theatre Championship on Sunday afternoon, winning the Ev and Jim Ryan Memorial Shield and an $800 prize.
The Open Recital Solo Championship, which requires competitors to sing three contrasting songs, was won by Panayiota Kalatzis of Sunnybank Hills, QLD on Saturday afternoon.
Ms Kalatzis took home the Frank Wooldridge Memorial Trophy and a prize of $1000.
Local talent Zoe Budge was the winner of the Junior Farleigh Scholarship 13-18 yrs.