The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition (ASC) is considered the most prestigious competition in Australia and is now in its 40th year.
With the largest suite of prizes, awards, scholarships, educational opportunities, performance opportunities and grants on offer, it is highly competitive and a great accomplishment to progressing in the ASC.
23-year-old Jeremy Boulton, who has Greek Australian heritage, has progressed to the Finals of the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition.
Boulton has music in his blood, with his grandfather, Anthimos Panagiotidis, an avid clarinet player, as his inspiration for studying and continuing the art of classical and opera music.
The ASC Heats were conducted around Australia in July. The National Adjudicator, highly acclaimed Counter-Tenor and Managing Director of Arts Management, Graham Pushee, with assistance from local Adjudicators, selected ten impressive young singers who competed at the Semi Finals Concert of the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition on Sunday, August 28 at the Independent Theatre, North Sydney. All ten singers performed with collaborative artist, celebrated pianist Bradley Gilchrist.
At the end of the well-attended ASC Semi-Finals Concert, Mr Pushee, supported by his fellow Semi-Finals Adjudicators (Cheryl Barker AO, Brian Castles-Onion AM, Michael Halliwell, and Nöemi Terracini-Nadelmann) named the 2022 ASC Finalists: mezzo Kristin Astouroghlian (VIC), bass Jake Bigwood (WA), baritone Jeremy Boulton (NSW), soprano Billie Tumarkin (VIC), and soprano Younji Yi (NSW).
The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert will take place on Saturday, October 1 starting at 7pm at the Concert Hall at The Concourse in Chatswood, NSW.
Each performer will sing two pieces accompanied by the incomparable Opera Australia Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Vladimir Fanshil. The Finals Concert will be recorded for broadcast on ABC Classic.
Generous arts philanthropist, Dr Haruhisa Handa, has sponsored the Orchestra at the Finals through his International Foundation for Arts and Culture since 1997.
The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition is open to opera and classical singers under the age of 26, and offers a number of career-building awards making it Australasia’s premier competition. In 2022, entry age has been extended to 28 to accommodate the interruptions caused by Covid-19.
Event Details:
- Venue: Concert Hall, The Concourse, Chatswood.
- Date: 7pm, Saturday, October 1, 2022.
- Cost: Adult $50 |Concession $35 | Child $25.
- Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au or via the Concourse on 02 8075 8111.
- Information: www.aussing.org.
