The Herald Sun Aria, established in 1924, is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious prize for emerging classical singers. Now in partnership with Melbourne Opera and Medownick Laser Clinic, in 2024, we celebrate 100 years of Herald Sun Aria!

Widely regarded as the nation’s most prestigious competition for emerging opera singers, the Aria offers nearly $60,000 in cash prizes (including the Medownick First Prize) to enrich the training of our brightest talent. Entries must be aged between 19 – 36 years of age for this wonderful competition.

The first round Heats and Semi Finals are conducted by the Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod, and the Final is held in Melbourne – The 2024 Centenary of the Herald Sun Aria will be held at the Melbourne Concert Centre.

A night of opera – watch the drama and anticipation unfurl as six finalists compete against each other in the Herald Sun Aria Final accompanied by the Melbourne Opera Orchestra.

The finalists will perform two Arias each, giving the audience an insight into various world operas as well as a night of sophisticated exhilaration. The Master of Ceremonies will give a brief synopsis of each Aria and will be supported by music and voice students performances.

In 2024 the Herald Sun Aria celebrates 100 years of launching the international careers of many well-known singers, including: Dame Malvina Major (1964) Dame Kiri Te Kanawa 1965), Jonathan Summers (1973), Judith Henley (1976), Roger Lemke (1985), Jason Wasley (1993), and Rachelle Durkin (2000)