Big rewards for singers’ big notes

BE enthralled by spine-tingling performances from Australia’s best emerging opera divas and a tenor as seven hopefuls battle for the top prize of $15,000 in the Dame Joan Sutherland Award (DJSA) 2016 on Friday 22 July in Noosa.
The bi-annual DJSA is regional Australia’s richest and most prestigious opera award founded by Noosa Federation of the Arts (NFA) to help further the careers of Australian opera singers aged 20-34 in all categories from soprano to bass.
The live opera event where the audience vote counts is part of the Noosa Long Weekend program.
For the first time in the DJSA’s 22-year history, seven contestants (instead of six) will proceed to the exciting finals showdown.
NFA artistic director Brad Jarrett said the calibre of singers this year was “exceptional” and it was tough at the auditions in Brisbane in June to whittle the number of entrants from 26 down to seven finalists.
Four NSW finalists will pit their only instrument, their voice, against two finalists from Queensland plus a singer from WA.
Have your say about the best voice on the night by voting at interval in the People’s Choice Award.
DJSA standing committee chairwoman Susan Beaver said above all, the audience would have a very hard time determining the People’s Choice Award this year as the standard of competition was so high.
Don’t miss out on the exciting finals showdown at the Good Shepherd Lutheran College Auditorium, Noosaville, on Friday 22 July, from 5pm. Tickets are $38 for adults and $33 for NFA members. Book your tickets online at www.thej.com.au or phone The J booking office on 5329 6560.