Canberra Sunrise Rotary - Italian Opera Gala

The scholarships allow pre-tertiary students in regional areas of NSW to have the opportunity to attend a Young Classical Vocalist Workshop - a 10 day program, specifically designed for young classical vocal students at the ANU School of Music. Applicants had to be in years 11 or 12 from a regional area of NSW and had to be 19 years of age or younger at 1 January 2010.

"Selection of the students was made by representatives from the ANU School of Music, Rotary and the NSW Regional Conservatoriums. During the term of the scholarships at the ANU, 29 April to 9 May 2010, these students will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise", says Rotary Club President Jonathan Lyall.

The scholarships have been funded from the proceeds of the inaugural Italian Opera Gala in May 2009, which was a stunning success. Australia's leading opera stars, the Melbourne Opera Orchestra, a selected Canberra chorus, together with clever young music student talents combined to stage a memorable evening of entertainment which was enjoyed by over 700 patrons, at Llewellyn Hall, ANU. Proceeds from the Italian Opera Gala support Rotary's youth and community projects around Canberra. However, primary support is being given to two music scholarships - a prestigious post-graduate scholarship in Italy, and a pre-tertiary music workshop for regional students in Canberra.

Building on the 2009 successes, the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise, in association with Melbourne Opera, the ANU School of Music, and the Embassy of Italy, presented the second annual Italian Opera Gala concert on Saturday 8 May 2010 at Llewellyn Hall, ANU. The Italian Ambassador, His Excellency Gian Ludovico de Martino di Montegiordano, was the Patron for this event.

Professor Adrian Walter, the head of the ANU School of Music, says: "This unique association will provide our students with industry experience by performing with a prestigious major opera company - Melbourne Opera. It also provides development pathways for talented students via the new scholarship program and further extends our current links with the Embassy of Italy. Today's announcement of the regional scholarship winners follows the development of a close working relationship between the School and Rotary and is an example of the strong links that have been built between the ANU School of Music and the broader community. Together we are further developing an educationally enriching experience for talented young Australian musicians."

His Excellency, says: "We invite the communities of Canberra and the surrounding region to celebrate the best of Italian culture at this gala event. We are looking forward to further promoting our close connections with Australia by facilitating a musically enriching experience for talented young Australian musicians."

Internationally-experienced Musical Director for Melbourne Opera, Greg Hocking says: "The event provides a unique opportunity for Canberra and those from surrounding areas to enjoy a rare musical feast of Italian opera favourites performed by one of Australia's leading sopranos, Joanna Cole, with tenor Roy Best of "Operatunity" fame on ABC TV, together with leading Italian baritone Phillip Calcagno - as well as the Melbourne Opera Orchestra, together with the Canberra opera chorus and leading ANU School of Music students, trained by ANU's Head of Voice, Alan Hicks."

The program included selections from well loved operas - Turandot, La Traviata, Il Trovatore, Cavalleria Rusticana, and a complete performance of act 2 of La Boheme to bring the concert to a grand conclusion.