Our History
The 2000s
| 2022 | Passing away of Margaret Baker-Genovesi, a valued and loved member of our Music Advisory Council on 23rd February 2022. Awarded: Sundell American Institute of Musical Studies Award (previously Dalwood-Wylie AIMS Award Lady Galleghan London Award Deutsche Oper Berlin Award Berlin Music Opera Award |
| 2021 | Inaugural 2021 Lady Galleghan London Award. |
| 2020 | No Awards were delivered due to COVID-19 |
| 2019 | Rockend Berlin New Music Opera Award becomes Rockend Berlin Opera Award. |
| 2017 | Passing away of our Founder, Director and Life Governor, Lady Mary Fairfax AC, OBE on September 17. |
| 2016 | Rockend Technologies becomes the major sponsor of the Berlin New Music Award. The Deutsche Oper Berlin Award commences. |
| 2015 | The Opera Foundation for young Australians is announced as the new name for Opera Foundation Australia. Dalwood-Wylie Foundation becomes the major sponsor of the American Institute of Studies Award. |
| 2010 | German Opera Scholarship replaces Audi German Opera Scholarship. Berlin New Music Opera Award replaces Bayreuth Opera Award. |
| 2008 | Bayreuth Opera Award replaces the Bayreuth Scholarship. Rockend National Opera Studio London Scholarship replaces the Covent Garden Award. Audi German Opera Scholarship replaces the Audi German Operatic Award. Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship replaces the New York Study Award. AIMS Sundell Study Award was introduced and linked to the American Institute of Musical Studies Award. |
| 2007 | Audi German Operatic Award replaces German Operatic Award. |
| 2006 | Barilla Italian Opera award renamed the Italian Opera Award. |
| 2005 | New York Study Award introduced replacing the Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Study Award. Barilla Italian Opera Award linked with The Società Corale Pisana and the Accademia Musicale Pisana (Pisa Italy). Finalist Prizes established for Barilla Italian Opera Award and German Operatic Award. |
| 2004 | Robert & Betty Salzer Award introduced and made available by The Robert Salzer Foundation linked to the Covent Garden National Opera Studio Scholarship. |
| 2003 | Barilla Australia becomes major sponsor of the Barilla Italian Opera Award and the Award is renamed the Barilla Italian Opera Award. |
| 2002 | Lady Fairfax AC OBE establishes the Lady (Mary) Fairfax Fund/Donation for a further period of study in New York for the winner of the Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Study Award. The Frank and Viola Tait Scholarship established by the Tait Memorial Trust London, chaired by Ms Isla Baring and linked to the Covent Garden National Opera Studio Scholarship. |
| 2001 | The Lady Warwick Fairfax Award sponsored by Lady Fairfax AC OBE established and linked to the Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Study Award. Ann Mader-Flowers major sponsor of the American Institute of Musical Studies Award until 2003. |
The 1990s
| 1998 | The late Mrs Margaret Adele Alldritt OBE Bequest establishes the annual Dellie Alldritt Prize linked to the American Institute of Music Studies Award. |
| 1997 | The late Lady Galleghan AO OBE Bequest establishes the Lady Galleghan Scholarship for Voice linked to the Covent Garden National Opera Studio Scholarship. |
| 1996 | The Italian Opera Award established. Shell Australia ends sponsorship of Covent Garden National Opera Studio Scholarship. |
| 1995 | National Vocal Symposium with Master Tutors: Dame Joan Sutherland OM, AC, DBE, Madame Marlena Kleinman Malas, Mr Robert Cowart, Mr Michael Parker and Ms Anna Sweeny. |
| 1994 | The Vienna State Opera Award established in conjunction with the Vienna State Opera. |
| 1993 | Inaugural National Vocal Symposium with Master Tutors: Dame Joan Sutherland OM, AC, DBE, Madame Marlena Kleinman Malas and Signor Luigi Alva. |
| 1990 | French Operatic Award sponsored once by Parfums Givenchy. |
The 1980s
| 1988 | German Operatic Award was established in conjunction with the Cologne Opera. |
| 1987- 89 | Opera Foundation Australia funded the Renato Capecchi Workshop conducted by The Australian Opera. |
| 1987 | Shell Australia became the major sponsor of the Shell Royal Opera House Covent Garden Scholarship. The American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) Austrian Scholarship introduced. |
| 1984 | The Covent Garden Scholarship established. |
| 1982 | Two additional Scholarships established: The Dame Mabel Brookes Memorial Fellowship and The Wagner Scholarship. Metropolitan Opera New York grants Australia the status of a region in its own right. Mr Raymond Myers is appointed Chairman of the Australian Region. |
| 1981- 89 | The Bond family Scholarship for Tenors. |
| 1980 | Opera Foundation Victoria formed under the Chairmanship of Mrs Jeanne Pratt AC. |
The 1960s & 1970s
| 1965- 73 | Lady Fairfax established scholarships for artists to study at La Scala Italy and Bayreuth Germany. Australian Opera Auditions formed. |
| 1964 | First Australian Winner Donald Shanks competed at the Metropolitan Opera Regional Finals. |
| 1963 | Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Australia established. Lady Fairfax successfully negotiated for Australia’s participation in the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions Program. First Chairman was Sir Bernard Heinze AC. |