2009
Natalie Aroyan
(Soprano, NSW)
Natalie Aroyan is a 27-year-old Australian-Armenian Soprano and is the current recipient of the Opera Foundation AIMS Award and Sundell Award of 2009. Prior to studying opera, Natalie graduated with a double-degree in Business and I.T. at the Australian Catholic University, Sydney and is fluent in both English and Armenian.
In 2008 she completed a Postgraduate Diploma of Opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. As one of many roles she has undertaken, last year she took on the major role of Rosalinde in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, directed by Matthew Barclay and conducted by Imre Pallo for the 2008 Sydney Conservatorium of Music Main Production.
Winning the The Opera Foundation Lady Fairfax New York Competition in 2008 led her to gaining a tuition scholarship to attend Mannes the New School of Music, in New York, USA studying directly with Internationally acclaimed Soprano and Voice teacher, Ruth Falcon. She was also the first place recipient of the 2008 Herald Sun Aria Competition, performing with the Orchestra Victoria conducted by Maestro Richard Divall.
In 2007, she participated in the Australian Singing Competition Finals, performing with the Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra conducted by Maestro Richard Bonynge, where she won first prize audience vote, and the 2008 International Vocal Arts Institute prize that she attended in Tel Aviv.
Other major roles include: The Goddess Diana in Haydn's La Fedelta Premiata,directed by Cathy Dadd and conducted by Imre Pallo. Lady Dunmow In Berkely's A Dinner Engagement conducted by Paulo Rossini and directed by Gemma Tamock and Lisetta in Haydn's Il Mondo della Luna, directed by Christine Douglas and conducted by Imre Pallo.
2008
Anna-Louise Cole
(Soprano, Vic)
Anna-Louise Cole graduated with Honours degrees in Music Performance (Voice) and German from the University of Melbourne, and received a Melbourne Abroad Scholarships for vocal study at the Universität für Musik und Darstendelle Kunst in Graz, Austria and a Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD-German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship for study at the Albert-Ludwigs Universität in Freiburg, Germany.
Anna-Louise has performed the roles of Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Frasquita in Carmen, Sister Dolcina in Suor Angelica, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Serpina in La Serva Padrona, Cherubino in La Nozze di Figaro, and Emma Watt in Beijing Spring (Melbourne University Opera Project), and appeared with the Victorian Opera in their 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons.
In 2007, Anna-Louise was a finalist in the Herald Sun Aria Competition and was placed second in the Australian Youth Aria Competition. Anna-Louise has previously been a finalist and prize winner in a number of other competitions, and has received awards from the Savage Club Sydney, the Opus 50 Foundation and the Royal Over Seas League, Victoria.
2007
Catherine Bouchier
(Soprano, NSW)
Catherine Bouchier is a graduate of The Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she completed her Bachelor of Music (2001) and Diploma of Opera (2006). Catherine has performed the roles of Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Diana in Haydn’s La fedeltà premiata and Clarice in Haydn’s Il mondo della luna. Catherine has also appeared in concert for Pacific Opera, The Sydney Conservatorium, Opera and Arts Support Group, The Joan Sutherland Society and Cantillation.
In 2006 Catherine was a finalist in the McDonalds Operatic Aria and Opera Foundation Australia’s German Operatic Award and Italian Opera Award. In January this year Catherine made her professional operatic debut as the First Bridesmaid in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and as a member of the ensemble in Sondheims Sweeney Todd both with Opera Australia .
2006
Lisa-Anne Robinson
(Soprano, Vic)
Lyric Soprano, Lisa Anne Robinson, began her formal musical studies at age 14. A series of scholarships enabled her to complete her secondary and tertiary education at prestigious Australian educational facilities, culminating in a Bachelor of Music Performance, with first class honours, from the Victorian College of the Arts (1997).
During Lisa’s short time in the UK she has performed with Iford Arts, Stanley Hall Opera, Opera Della Luna, The Gilbert & Sullivan Company and Longborough Festival Opera. Her operatic roles include: Countess Le Nozze di Figaro, Dido Dido and Aeneas, Lucy The Telephone, Fiordiligi Cosi fan Tutte, Mabel The Pirates of Penzance, Marchesa del Poggio Un Giorno di Regno, Rosalinde Die Fledermaus, Micaëla Carmen and has most recently Performed the role of Lady Psyche in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Princess Ida at the 16th International G&S Festival.
She has been the recipient of over 100 prizes, awards, and scholarships affording her the opportunity to study and perform throughout Australia, Austria, Germany and the UK. Major awards include: Mozarteum Salzburger Festspiele Prize (2007); Opera Foundation Australia - American Institute of Musical Studies Award (2006); Australian National Liederfest (2006), German-Australian Opera Grant 2nd Prize - Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden (2005); Australian Singer of the Year (2003); Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship (2003-4); The Herald-Sun Aria (2002); The Australian Youth Aria Award (1998).
Critics have described her voice as ‘sheer auditory bliss’, ‘rich’, ‘melting’, ‘distinctive’, ‘world-class’ and her operatic performances as ‘superb’, ‘exceptional’, ‘outstanding’ and ‘barely matched on commercial recordings’.
