The Richard Divall  Program

Applications for the Richard Divall program 2025-2026 are now closed.

2023 alumni Caitlin Weal and Melbourne Opera Orchestra conducted by Raymond Lawrence. Mozart by Moonlight.
Photo by Zac Krause

The Richard Divall Program focuses on providing opportunities for emerging opera singers to experience the pressure of intensive role preparation, rehearsal and performance in a professional setting whilst continuing artistic development with tailored high-quality coaching, workshops, master classes and mentoring.

It is incredible to think the program is entering ten years of operations. We have supported so many outstanding singers who have gone on to have wonderful careers and opportunities both here and overseas. The program continues to develop award winners and finalists but most importantly, many of our past program members are sustaining careers as singers, largely because our program’s focus squarely on creating performance-ready singers.

This performance ready capability of our singers was never more on show than when soprano Emily Szabo stepped in to sing the role of Mimi in Melbourne Opera’s second performance of La Bohème in September 2024 due to the indisposition of the principal artist.  The audience were transfixed by her magnificent preparation and command of the role as well as her composure. This included high praise from critics from Limelight and Classic Melbourne who were attending. So many program members were covers for this production that we are planning a performance featuring the program members later in 2025. As part of the Melbourne Opera Puccini Festival, we also presented two concert performances of Suor Angelica, featuring Helena Dix and Deborah Humble, with all the smaller ‘sister’ roles being played by program members.

Melbourne Opera’s epic production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg provided many opportunities for our emerging and developing artists to shine. Henry Shaw sang the role of the Nightwatchman (and cover Hans Schwartz), Asher Reichman sang the role of Augustus Moser (and covered Konrad Nachtigall), Livia Brash covered the significant role of Eva Pogner and our wonderful team of Apprentices largely comprised of members of the emerging and developing artists program: Daniel Felton, Joshua Erdelyi-Gotz, Breanna Stuart, James Penn, Lily Ward, Amanda Windred and past program members Finn Gilheany and Leah Phillips. This provided an incredible opportunity to learn some of the most challenging ensemble singing there is with detailed German language coaching, plus choreography!

We have also recently completed our annual Mozart by Moonlight concert at the Royal Botanical Gardens with selections from Le nozze di Figaro, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni and Cosi fan tutte sung by program members Breanna Stuart, Lily Ward, Daniel Felton, Asher Reichman and Henry Shaw.

New Richard Divall 
Emerging Artists 2025 to 2026

BREANNA STUART
Soprano

HEULEN CYNFAL
Soprano

SIDRA NISSEN
Mezzo-Soprano

JOSHUA ERDELYI- GÖTZ
Tenor

HARTLEY TRUSLER
Baritone

LIVIA BRASH
Soprano

Welcome to Richard Divall Program Members
2025 to 2026

We have many new faces in the Richard Divall Program following on from the wonderful group who were with us from 2023 to 2025. We do not really say goodbye to those singers, many of them will continue to work with us in the future. We do, however, say farewell to Caitlin Weal who is moving to Leipzig where she has been offered a place in the prestigious Hochschule für Musik und Theater “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.”

Livia Brash is returning to the program for a second year and two members are moving from ‘developing’ to ‘emerging’ artists. Livia recently won the Sydney Eisteddfod. Breanna Stuart, who is one of the members moving from a developing to an emerging artist has just won the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Sydney International Song Prize. Livia and Breanna are both finalists in the upcoming Herald Sun Aria on October 26th at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

New program member Sidra Nissen is a finalist in IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition (the Mathy) which will be held on September 25th. Sidra and new program member Hartley Trusler are both finalists in the Opera Scholars Australia Aria competition.

The singers have commenced the program with weekly coaching sessions preparing them for all that is ahead, along with their singing lessons with their private teachers, language assessments and studies, movement and intimacy workshops and the tenors all recently had a wonderful session with super tenor Shanul Sharma. We are just about to commence rehearsals for the Richard Divall Program production of ‘Cosi fan tutte’ which will open at the Athenaeum 2 on October 30th, with further performances on November 5th, 8th and 9th. As with our wonderful Figaro production, this will be sung in English and performed with an orchestra. The production will feature new program members along with Livia Brash, Asher Reichman and Henry Shaw.

DEVELOPING ARTISTS
2025 TO 2026

The Richard Divall Program has a developing artists program for singers of great potential. This program is aimed at building singers to emerging artist level. This year we are very pleased to welcome three new developing artists and one returning developing artist.

Uma Dobia is a coloratura soprano, holding both a Bachelor of Music (Performance: Classical Voice) and a Master of Music (Opera Performance) from The University of Melbourne. During her masters Uma performed the role of Tytania in their 2022 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as the roles of Fairy 2 (Fairy Queen), Amy (Little Women) and Amore/Valetto (L’incoronazione di Poppea) and made her professional opera debut as Bessie/Helen II in The Spare Room workshop with Monstrous Theatre in January 2023. Uma was previously a member of Opera Scholars Australia, and as part of the ACOCO Emerging Artists Program, Uma has performed as Milly in Figatroll, Anna Gomez in Endure and was involved in workshopping new Australian opera.

Cen Wei moved from China to Australia and began his Bachelor of Music degree at Monash University in 2016, where he laid the foundation for his classical vocal training. From 2019 to 2021, he was a member of Opera Scholars Australia. Cen went on to pursue advanced training and successfully completed his Master of Opera Performance at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in 2023.During his master’s program he appeared in The Selfish Giant and The Grumpiest Boy in the World with Victorian Opera. His university performance credits include Monostatos in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, the Chinese Man in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, and Snout/The Wall in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Nicholas Matters is a Melbourne-based tenor specialising in musical theatre and opera. He completed a Diploma of Musical Theatre at Box Hill Institute in 2016 and a Bachelor of Music at the Australian Institute of Music in 2018. His interest in classical music led to his selection for Opera Scholars Australia (2022–2024. In June of 2025 he completed his Honours degree Music Performance graduating with First Class Honours. Nicholas is the resident tenor of the Victorian State Concert Orchestra and is known as a soloist/cantor in Catholic churches across Melbourne. He made his professional ensemble debut with Victorian Opera in English Eccentrics. He is once again working with Victorian Opera in August 2025 as a member of the ensemble for Abduction and in November 2025 as a member of the ensemble for Boojum. He recently won second prize in the Lieder section of the Eisteddfod by the Bay.

James Penn is an emerging tenor and conductor, returning as a developing artist this year. He began his musical training as a boy chorister at All Saints church, St Kilda East. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from the Victorian College of the Arts, and a Graduate Diploma in Music from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In 2016 he co-founded BK opera. His roles include Turiddu (Cavalleria Rusticana), Camille de Rossillon (The Merry Widow), Lucentio (The taming of the shrew), Frederic (the Pirates of Penzance), Ralph Rackstraw (HMS Pinafore), Rodolfo (La Bohème), Pollione (Norma), Beadle Bamford (Sweeney Todd), Don Curzio (Marriage of Figaro), and the title role in Werther. For Melbourne Opera James recently covered the role of Zorn in and sang an apprentice role (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg) and was the cover Messenger and first Philistine (Samson et Dalila).

The Richard Divall Artists Program was created to honour the memory of one of Australia’s most lauded conductors, Maestro Richard Divall, supported by a generous bequest made by Melbourne born international soprano, Sylvia Fisher. Upon her death, Sylvia Fisher made this bequest to ensure the continuing support of the development of new artists of operatic excellence in her hometown, Melbourne. Before Maestro Divall’s death in early 2017, he was closely involved in the planning and creation of this program in collaboration with Melbourne Opera.

Managed by a committee of professional opera artists through Melbourne Opera, The Richard Divall Program aims to develop singers of great potential to a performance-ready standard. It will focus on providing opportunities for emerging opera singers to experience the pressure of intensive role preparation, rehearsal and performance in a professional setting whilst continuing artistic development with tailored high quality coaching, workshops, master classes and mentoring.

The program provides:

  • Financial assistance with artistic development expenses.
  • Opportunities to perform and understudy main stage roles in a professional environment.
  • High level coaching for roles being performed and understudied as well as general repertoire.
  • Professional rehearsal conditions.
  • Exclusive opportunities to participate in master classes with visiting artists, conductors and directors.
  • Weekly language classes (Italian at IIC, German at Goethe Institute).
  • Specific instruction in role preparation, & stagecraft (16th street actors studio & guest professionals).
  • Professional practice instruction.
  • Mentoring from senior colleagues.
  • Performance opportunities.

2024 – 2025 Emerging Artists: Livia Brash (soprano), Rachael Joyce (to end of 2024, soprano), Emily Szabo (soprano), Lily Ward (soprano), Caitlin Weal (soprano), Amanda Windred (soprano), Asher Reichman (tenor), Bailey Montgomerie (baritone), Henry Shaw (bass). Developing Artists: Breanna Stuart (soprano), Joshua Erdelyi-Gotz (tenor),  James Penn (tenor), Daniel Felton (baritone).

2023-2024 Emerging Artists: Olivia Federow-Yemm (mezzo-soprano), Rachael Joyce (soprano), Asher Reichman (tenor), Henry Shaw (Bass), Emily Szabo (soprano), Caitlin Weal (soprano), Amanda Windred (soprano), Jordan Kahler (soprano).

2022-2023 Emerging Artists: Alastair Cooper-Golec (tenor), Naomi Flatman (mezzo-soprano). Olivia Federow-Yemm (mezzo soprano), Esther Gresswell (mezzo-soprano), Teresa Ingrilli (soprano), Adam Jon (baritone), Jordan Kahler (soprano), Amelia Wawrzon (soprano), Alex Byrne (repetiteur). Developing Artists: Andrew Alesi (baritone), Shania Eliassen (soprano), Finn Gilheanny (tenor), James Park (tenor), Syrah Torii (mezzo-soprano), Leah Phillips (soprano).

2021-2022: Alastair Cooper-Golec (tenor), Naomi Flatman (mezzo-soprano). Eleanor Greenwood (soprano),Teresa Ingrilli (soprano), Adam Jon (baritone), Jordan Kahler (soprano), Amelia Wawrzon (soprano).

2020-21: Eleanor Greenwood (soprano), Jane Magao (soprano), Darcy Carroll (bass-baritone), Louise Keast (soprano), Michael Dimovski (tenor), Georgia Wilkinson (soprano).

2019-20: Louise Keast (soprano), Jane Magão (soprano), Shakira Dugan (mezzo soprano), Chloe Harris (mezzo soprano), Michael Dimovski (tenor), Louis Hurley (tenor), Darcy Carroll (baritone) and Associate Artists,  Rebecca Rashleigh (soprano)  and Stephen Marsh (baritone).

2018-19: Rebecca Rashleigh (soprano), Alison McIntosh-Deszcz (soprano), Shakira Dugan (mezzo soprano), Michael Dimovski (tenor), Michael Lampard (baritone), Darcy Carroll (baritone)and Stephen Marsh (baritone).

Programme Director

Suzanne Chaundy: suzanne@melbourneopera.com

Programme Committee

Raymond Lawrence (Head of Music), Greg Hocking AM, Margaret Haggart, Geoffrey Harris and Roger Howell.

 

Supporters

Supporters

The Richard Divall Program provides emerging and developing artists with practical and essential performance and industry experience along with tailored language study, drama and movement classes, masterclasses with leading international artists and provides financial support for singing lessons and coaching.

The Program is so grateful for all the support it receives from principal supporters the Sylvia Fisher Fund and the Ian Potter Foundation, Friends of Melbourne Opera, the Mietta Foundation and Allan Myers AC and Maria Myers AC. Every cent donated contributes to Melbourne Opera providing this essential program. If you are interested in finding out more, becoming a one-off donor or a major ongoing supporter of the programme please contact Melbourne Opera Company Manager – Robbie McPhee on  (03) 9600 2488 or by email:info@melbourneopera.com. 

Partners

16th Street Actors Studio
Italian Institute of Culture
Goethe Institut Melbourne

RDEAP News

Associate Artists

Stephen Marsh

Stephen Marsh

Baritone

Shakira Dugan

Shakira Dugan

Mezzo-soprano

Louis Hurley

Louis Hurley

Tenor

Chloe Harris

Chloe Harris

Mezzo-soprano

Rebecca Rashleigh

Rebecca Rashleigh

Soprano

Georgia Wilkinson

Georgia Wilkinson

Soprano

Jane Magao

Jane Magao

Soprano

Louise Keast

Louise Keast

Soprano

Michael Dimovski

Michael Dimovski

Tenor

Darcy Carroll

Darcy Carroll

Baritone

German Exchange Scholarship

The Richard Divall Programme in association with Rotary Central Melbourne through the New Generations Service Exchange, Rotary International; offers an annual German scholarship  (July to September, with some flexibility) providing travel, accommodation and living expenses in Germany for three months allowing singers to pursue their own development interests in a supported environment.

This is opportunity is exclusively open to current and past members of the Richard Divall Emerging Artists Programme.  Recipients to date are Michael Dimovski,Louise Keast and Olivia Federow-Yemm.

Applications for 2023 exchange will be open in October.

Due to Rotary rules applicants must be under 30 years of age.

Stop Press

News about  programme members present and past.

2022 – 2023 NEWS

Eleanor Greenwood won the 2023 Opera Award.

Stephen Marsh won the 2023 Deutsche Oper Berlin Award.

Chloe Harris won the Lady Galleghan London Award.

Naomi Flatman won the 2022 Acclaim Award and participated in the OpernFest Prague in June/July 2023.

Amelia Wawrzon – has graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, London in 2023 and won the  Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Prize in the 2022 Herald Sun Aria Competition.
Jordan Kahler received the Richard-Wagner-Stipendienstiftung with the support of the Victorian Wagner Society
Alastair Cooper-Golec -. was nominated for a Green Room Award as outstanding supporting artist for one of his role in Melbourne Opera’s Lucrezia Borgia. He, along with 2022 developing artist Syrah Torii shared  the Victorian Opera Emerging Artist Prize.

Olivia Federow-Yemm  won the Rotary New Generation Exchange scholarship in 2023.

Shania Eliassen won the 2022 Welsh Male Choir Singer of the Year.

 

2021 Herald Sun Aria

Four of the six finalists in the prestigious Herald Sun Aria 2021 were from our programme, with current programme members Naomi Flatman winning the overall competition. Alastair Cooper-Golec winning the John Fulford Prize. Associate artists Jane Magao won the Richard Divall Award and Darcy Carroll was a finalist.

2021 the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Award Bel Canto Award
Amelia Wawrzon has won a 2021 the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Award Bel Canto Award.

2021 Australian Liederfest Award
Naomi Flatman won the 2021 Australian Liederfest Award with Alastair Cooper-Golec was runner up.

2022 Michael Stubbs and Malcolm Roberts Opera Prize
Associate Artists Michael Dimovksi and Shakira Dugan are joint winners of the 2022 Michael Stubbs and Malcolm Roberts Opera Prize