Two tune up for success

Press, 3 August 1985, Page 7

Two tune up for success

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney Two New Zealanders, Jillian Anderton and Stewart Cameron, next week make their bid to become the second New Zealanders to" win Australia’s premier classical singing competition, the Marianne Mathy Scholarship. Ms Anderton, aged 23, an Auckland soprano, earned her place in the semi-finals of the competiton by being runner-up in New Zealand’s equivalent competition, the Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship, last month. Under an arrangement between the two scholarship organisations, the runner-up in each gains an automatic semi-final place in the competition run by the other, and this year’s winner in Auckland was an Australian Fiona Maconaghie. Mr Cameron, aged 25, an Auckland baritone, who has

been studying in Australia, reached the Monday evening semi-finals from 65 entrants.

Among his New Zealand singing succeses are the “Waikato Times” Aria in 1983, the “New Zealand Herald” Aria in 1982, and places in the National Open Singing Competition and the Mobil National Song Quest. The two New Zealanders will compete against 11 Australian singers for the competition which carries a first prize of sAusls,ooo ($20,550), and has several other scholarships both overseas and in Australia, and recording engagement prizes.

The first Mathy scholarship, in 1982, was won by the New Zealand soprano, Nicola Waite, before there was any formal arrangement with New Zealand. She will soon embark on a New Zealand concert tour on her return from Europe, before joining the Australian Opera Company.