Zoe Drummond Wins 2016 Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship

Soprano Zoe Drummond from New South Wales has won the 2016 Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship  awarded by the Opera Foundation for young Australians (formerly Opera Foundation Australia).

The six finalists performed in a public recital at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music last weekend, in the presence of His Excellency General, The Hon. David Hurley,Governor of NSW, and Mrs Hurley.

Zoe, who is the 52nd winner of this coveted award will receive $43,000 to study with internationally acclaimed vocal, language and movement coaches in New York.

Anna Cleary, Chair of The Opera Foundation for young Australians and Lady Fairfax’s daughter says “This signature Award was the first ever offered by the Foundation that was founded by my mother in 1963. Each year we offer a portfolio of Awards and Scholarships that open the doors to the world of opera for all young Australian operatic performers, conductors, designers, directors and repetiteurs. Our alumni continue to enhance the operatic world across the globe and in Australia. Next year we are particularly thrilled to have four previous Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship Winners performing principal roles in the Opera Australia’s 2017 season.”

Also announced were the winners of the 2016 Vienna State Opera Award for a stage experienced opera singer – soprano Anna-Louise Cole from Sydney, 2016 Berlin New Music Opera Award winner Sydney-based Costume & Set Designer – Aleisa Jelbart, 2016 Dalwood-Wylie American Institute of Musical Studies Award Winner – soprano Sylvie from Sydney (currently residing in Switzerland) and Sam Roberts-Smith, Baritone from Western Australia winning the 2016 Deutsche Oper Berlin Award (10 month contract Deutsche Oper Berlin).

Zoe Drummond graduated at the Sydney Conservatorium with a Bachelor of Music Performance (1st Class Hons) and is a Melba Opera Trust scholar, on the 2016 Dame Nellie Melba Scholarship and Patrick & Vivian Gordon Award. In 2016, Zoe won second place in the Mietta Song Competition and was a finalist in many of Australia’s prestigious singing competitions. She makes her Opera Australia debut as a principal in Sydney Opera House – The Opera.