Ralph K. Hatcher Memorial Vocal Scholarship
Saturday 1st August 2026
VENUE: Balaklava Uniting Church – See Eisteddfod Venues page
CONVENOR: Danielle Mudge
ADJUDICATOR: TBA
Adjudicator bio here
GENERAL INFORMATION
* The Ralph K. Hatcher Memorial Scholarship is open to any male singing a vocal classical piece.
No separate entry or entry fees are required to qualify.
This Scholarship to the sum of $1,000.00, will be awarded to a male classical singer who shows the best
potential. The winner is decided by the adjudicator at the end of the Vocal Solo sections.
If no suitable male classical singer is available, this may be awarded to the best female classical singer at
the adjudicator’s discretion.
ANNOUNCE RALPH K. HATCHER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER AT THE END OF THE VOCAL SOLO SECTIONS
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.