Vocal – Classical & Non-Classical
Saturday 3rd August 2024
VENUE: Balaklava Uniting Church – See Eisteddfod Venues page
CONVENOR: Danielle Mudge
ADJUDICATOR: Nic Lester
Nicholas Lester grew up in Balaklava appearing regularly with Balaklava Community Arts. He studied at Adelaide Conservatorium of Music, was a Young Artist with State Opera South Australia and made his professional principal Australian debut with CoOpera.
In London he trained privately alongside fulltime work for The Salvation Army. After two seasons in the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, he made his professional principal UK debut for Opera Holland Park. Glyndebourne sponsored his year at the National Opera Studio, London.
He has now established an international classical singing career with over 50 roles so far-repeating some of the best baritone roles including Figaro The Barber of Seville, Eugene Onegin, Marcello in La bohème, Don Giovanni and The Count in The Marriage of Figaro.
UK companies he has performed with include:
English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, Grange Festival Opera, Dorset Opera and The Opera Story. Internationally; New Zealand, Portugal, Norway, Denmark and The Netherlands.
In concert he has appeared at The Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Cadogan Hall and in a one-off performance in The Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing.
Shortly he performs Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte for State Opera South Australia.
DISCIPLINE INFORMATION
Entrants MUST read the Syllabus Notes for Saturday for detailed information and the Rules & Conditions of Entry
Sections will include solo and ensemble (2-4 voices)
SEE SYLLABUS page for details on how to enter.
Vocal Sections Start times
Depending on number of entries, some SECTIONS may be divided, combined, cancelled or have entries CLOSED EARLY when capacity is reached
9.30am – Senior Vocal Solo – Non Classical – Age 16-18
10.30am – Senior Vocal Solo – Classical – Age 16-18
11.00am – Intermediate Vocal Solo – Classical – Age 13-15
11.30am – Intermediate Vocal Solo – Non Classical – Age 13-15
12.50pm – Vocal Ensemble (2-4 voices) – Open – groups with any members age 14 or over
(NONE in 2024 – Vocal Ensemble (2-4 voices) – Junior – all members 13 & under)
ANNOUNCE VOCAL ENSEMBLE CHAMPION
2.15pm – Junior Vocal Solo (either classical or non-classical) – Age 12 & under
2.35pm – Open Vocal Solo – Classical – Age 19 & over
3.00pm – Open Vocal Solo – Non-classical – Age 19 & over
ANNOUNCE RALPH. K. HATCHER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is to be awarded to a male singer in the Classical category (best potential) to the sum of $1000.00.
ANNOUNCE VOCAL SOLO CHAMPION and ROGER MANUEL MEMORIAL AWARD
Adelaide Plains Male Voice Choir Vocal Scholarship to follow at 3.40pm
(See the Programme page for full program)
ROGER MANUEL MEMORIAL AWARD
(Musical Theatre Solo Champion and Vocal Solo Champion)
ROGER JOHN MANUEL
2.12.1946 – 24.10.1995
Roger Manuel’s family donated the Roger Manuel Memorial Award in his memory after he died in 1995 at the age of 48. Roger learned to play the button accordion as a young boy and went on to play drums in a rock band. He was a talented musician and could play a tune on just about any instrument. Roger’s family decided an award for an Eisteddfod entrant in his memory was a fitting memorial.
RALPH K. HATCHER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
(Male Vocal Classical Singer with most potential)
RALPH K. HATCHER
14.11.1931 – 2.10.2018
“The Singing Farmer of Kangaroo Flat”
Ralph believed he was born to sing, and as a Bass Baritone, joined the Gawler Choral Society when he was 18 years old. At 20 he sang the bass solos with the Choir in Handels’ “Messiah” for the first time. He studied at the Elder Conservatorium for 5 years, under Max Worthley & Arnold Matters, and sang leading roles in each opera that he appeared in.
Performing at the Adelaide Eisteddfod, in 1958, he won the Lucy Bagot Prize for Operatic singing. Ralph also performed on ABC radio in the 1950s, both live and pre-recorded.
While he sang Oratorio’s hundreds of times, he especially enjoyed performing in Operas where he had to dress-up and also act. He was also called upon to sing at various town events – mostly The Song of Australia & Advance Australia Fair (once at the start of the Tour Down Under).
Ralph was a founding member of the South Australian Country Choral Association & later awarded Life Membership.
In between all of this he was a full-time farmer, husband to Mary & father of 5 children. When he retired from ‘big’ performances, he joined a small group who travelled the state entertaining at retirement homes.
This scholarship is to be awarded to a male singer in the Classical category (best potential) to the sum of $1000.00.