Melbourne-born mezzo-soprano Bronte Zemlic was announced the winner of the 2017 Australian International Opera Awards (AIOA) Scholarship. The scholarship, worth up to A$50,000 and covering all tuition, board and lodging, travel expenses, and a living allowance for 10 months, will provide Zemlic with the opportunity to commence a Masters of Arts (Voice) under the direction of world-renowned tenor and teacher Dennis O’Neill at the Wales International Academy of Voice (WIAV) in Cardiff in September 2017.

The Academy, formed in 2006, selects only 12 to 15 young opera singers worldwide to study each year and has paved the way for many singers to go on to successful careers. Australian sopranos Siobhan Stagg and Greta Bradman were the recipients of the award in 2012 and 2013 respectively, going on to forge careers on both national and international stages. In addition to the scholarship, a special AIOA Study Award has been awarded to mezzo-soprano Fiona McArdle from South Australia.

Limelight spoke to Bronte Zemlic about her musical journey, what winning the award means to her, and her plans for the future.

Could you tell us a bit about where you were born and how you got into opera singing?

I was born in Melbourne. I am...