Sidra Nissen Wins The 2025 The Marianne Mathy Scholarship
Congratulations to mezzo-soprano Sidra Nissen, winner of The Marianne Mathy Scholarship (‘The Mathy’).
Sidra’s performance of Smanie implacabili from Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Kaddish from Deux mélodies hébraïques by Ravel won her the scholarship prize of $30,000 to assist with a programme of study and/or singing activity, the audition Prize from Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center, the Lili Ussher Portrait Prize, a painting of the winner in concert dress, the WinkiPoP Media Prize, a folio of three different 8x12inch photographic prints, the Oral History Award, a taped interview by oral historian Diana Ritch that will be retained within the Oral History Collection of the National Library of Australia and The Mathy, a limited-edition Drago Marin Cherina sculpture presented by Music & Opera Singers Trust Ltd (MOST®).
As well as the Marianne Mathy Scholarship and this suite of accompanying prizes, Sidra also won the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (CVAI) Montreal Scholarship, an opportunity to participate in the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (CVAI) Summer Program in Montréal. Sponsored by CVAI, Montréal. As part of the CVAI Scholarship, Sidra will also receive AUD $4,000 to assist with travel expenses.
Congratulations to the other finalists Sophie Blades, Brittney Northcott, Aidan Hodder and Wesley Haotian Yu, who each won significant prizes to further their careers through cash, teaching and audition opportunities.
The Adjudication Panel comprised Jeffrey Black (National Adjudicator), Joanne Goodman, Dr. Francis Greep, Kate Johnson, and Dr. Simon Lobelson. Maestra Natalie Murray Beale and the Opera Australia Orchestra accompanied the finalists in a selection of arias by Mozart, Gounod, Donizetti, Wagner, Ravel and Cilea. The Opera Australia Orchestraopened the second half of the concert with the Overture from Il barbiere di Siviglia and Carmen Suite No. 1.
The The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition is supported by The International Foundation for Arts and Culture, and the Music and Opera Singers Trust Ltd. (MOST).
