Australian soprano Louise Keast has been awarded the 2026 Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship at a ceremony hosted at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music on 29 August.

Keast has won the $43,000 John Lamble Foundation Scholarship, which will support overseas study and the next stage of her operatic career. Mezzo-soprano Ella Orehek-Coddington has been awarded the Second Place Award, valued at $4,000.

Louise Keast, 2026 Opera Scholarship winner. Photo © Winkipop Media

“It feels absolutely surreal to win this scholarship,” Keast told Limelight. “Winning feels like recognition has finally arrived for the years of hard work that has gone into this: the auditions that rarely lead anywhere, competitions where I failed to progress, cover roles that I undertook but never got to jump in on stage and show what I can do… to have the adjudicators, highly esteemed professionals in our industry, award me first prize feels like they feel and know that I am built for this job,  just as I in my heart and soul know that I am.”

“To be honest, when my name was announced as the winner, I couldn’t hold back the tears. I hadn’t expected to react so viscerally to the announcement, but it really does just mean so much to me to receive this acknowledgement of the hard work that has gone into my performing career, and the support to now take my career even further.”

Adjudicators and finalists for the 2026 Opera Scholarship. Photo © Winkipop Media

Keast made her operatic debut with the Opera Australia Chorus in the 2021 production of Aida in Melbourne. In 2022, she became a permanent member; she has now been singing full-time with the Chorus for almost five years

“I’ve learnt all I know practically on the job. I really can see just how much I have learnt from my colleagues. It’s pretty cool to have the support from a team like that cheering me on and who I can ask advice from as I plan my next steps.”

In 2024, she made her mainstage debut at the Sydney Opera House as Papagena in The Magic Flute, and also performed as a soloist in Fauré’s Requiem. She has also performed with groups including Victorian Opera, Operantics, BK Opera, National Opera and at Festival junger Künstler Bayreuth.

Keast says that the Scholarship will support her as she develops an international singing career, including a return to Europe. In the meantime, she will continue to hone my skills, learn repertoire and stay ‘match-fit’ is continue to produce and perform in concerts locally.”

“I am sincerely so grateful to Sydney Eisteddfod and the support of The John Lamble Foundation to now have the freedom and support to take my next steps.”

Established in 1933 as the Sun Aria, the Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship supports emerging opera singers across Australia and New Zealand. It is the longest-standing event of the Eisteddfod.

More about the Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship can be found here.

Keast performs in Verdi in the City at Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, Sydney, on 18 October.