'Sun’ aria to Chch singer

Press, 23 September 1980, Page 3

'Sun’ aria to Chch singer

A Christchurch opera singer, Anne Young, has won the Sydney “Sun” Aria contest. Miss Young, aged 24, a mezzo-soprano, won a cash prize of $2OOO and a scholarship worth $4500, at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday evening. She is a full-time member of the chorus of the Sydney Opera Company and lives in Sydney. She sang two arias for the final “Una Voce Poco Fa” from the “Barber of. Seville,” by Rossini, and Charlotte’s

Letter Aria from “Werther” by Massenet. Her father, Mr A. Young, said last evening that Miss Young would probably use the grant to study at the Convent Garden Opera School in London. She had planed to take a year’s study leave next year, so winning the scholarship in the competition had worked out well. Miss Young started singing while at Hillmorton High School and did some folk singing in Christchurch. Her first music teacher, Margaret Daly, persuaded her to learn classical singing. Miss Young’s first public performance was in the 1974. Christchurch Arts Festival after which she moved to Auckland and trained under Sister Mary Leo. She moved to Australia 18 months ago after winning a Joan Sutherland scholarship, which gave her three months coaching with • the Sydney Opera Company. The British conductor, Sir Charles Groves, and an Australian opera singer, John Shaw, judged the contest. Sir* Charles commented that the finalists were of an “extraordinarily high standard.” There were two other New

Zealand finalists, Jillian Bartram, from Christchurch, and Nicola Waite, of Auckland, but neither was placed.