2009
David Parkin 
(Bass, NSW)

“I am very excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity to study in NY with some of the best operatic minds in the world. Thank you!”

“Thank you Lady Fairfax and the Opera Foundation for this wonderful scholarship to broaden my training in NY. What an opportunity!”

In 2006 David was the winner of Australia’s first “Operatunity Oz” competition, a joint production between Opera Australia and the ABC. 

Since winning Operatunity Oz David has continued vocal and language studies with Glen Winslade and Sharolyn Kimmorley. He has recorded for ABC Classics and performed the role of Sparafucile in Opera Australia’s Rigoletto. 

In the last 12 months David has returned to Opera Australia to cover the roles of The Commendatore and Masetto in the new production of Don Giovanni and to Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for “Classical Spectacular”. He made his Pinchgut Opera debut in Charpentier’s David and Jonathan and is currently performing his debut season in the Opera House as the King in Opera Australia’s Aida. 

In October David will be performing the role of Sparafucile in Opera Queensland’s production of Rigoletto.

2008
Natalie Aroyan
(Soprano, NSW)

From a young age, Natalie Aroyan has had a passion for singing and has performed on numerous stages all over Sydney. Prior to studying opera, Natalie graduated with a double-degree in Business and I.T. at the Australian Catholic University, Sydney.

In 2008 she will complete a Postgraduate Diploma of Opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. This 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. Natalie’s other major roles include: The Goddess Diana in the 2005 production of Haydn’s La Fedelta Premiata directed by Cathy Dadd and Conducted by Imre Pallo, in 2006 she performed Lady Dunmow in Berkeley’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.

Natalie’s most recent achievement was participating 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, and made some groundbreaking connections with the industry professionals from New York, and even The Metropolitan Opera.

In the past few years, she has been a participant in many Australian National Finals, in 2006 she was one of six National finalists in the prestigious Covent Garden Competition Finals in Melba Hall, Melbourne and was awarded third place in the New York MET Study Award Finals in the Sydney Opera House and the Italian Barilla Award Finals for the Opera Foundation in Australia. Later that year she was also invited to New York, USA to audition for the prestigious Juilliard Opera Centre, and made it through to the Final Call-back stage as one of 10 Sopranos Internationally.

Natalie has performed in Masterclasses with: Sir John Bolton Wood (Baritone), Joan Dornemann (Assistant conductor MET, NY), Ruth Falcon (Voice Teacher, MET, NY), Håken Hagegård (Baritone), David Wakeham (Baritone), Janice Chapman (Voice Teacher, London) and Yvonne Kenny (Soprano).

Alexander began performing at a young age as a member of the St Alban's Cathedral Choir in England. He featured in many recordings for film, TV and radio and performed in some of the finest concert halls in Britain and the USA. As a treble, Alexander appeared as the Third Apparition in Verdi's Macbeth (State Opera South Australia), Cobweb in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Opera Australia), and featured as a soloist with The Australian Chamber Orchestra at The Huntington Music Festival. In 2001 he appeared in The Sydney festival with The Australian Theatre for Young People and was a finalist in The Australian Singing Competition's Mathy Awards.

At the end of 2004, Alexander completed his BA (Music Theatre) at WAAPA and was awarded the Lesley Anderson Fellowship as the outstanding graduate of that year. Since then he has appeared as Frederick Barrett in Titanic-The Musical (Glug Award, Sydney Theatre Award Nom.), Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd for Opera Australia and has featured in Rosie, and The Hatpin (workshop production). His concert appearances include APEC Australia's 2007 Gala Cultural Performance, The Coronation Music of King George II (Sydney Philharmonia Choir), The Centenary Gala Concert for Perth's His Majesty's Theatre, The Australia Day celebrations at the Prime Minister's residence and two Young Australian of the Year Award ceremonies. He has featured in fund raising events for The Royal Flying Doctor Service, The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, performed at Hats Off and Light the Night concerts and frequently appears with The Three Waiters and The Leading Men. He has also appeared in Channel 7's Headland.

In 2007 Alexander was a finalist in the Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition in Germany. In 2006 he won Opera Foundation Australia's New York Study Award, The City of Sydney Opera Award, was runner-up in The Opera and Arts Support Group Award and was a finalist in the MacDonald's Aria Competition.