The five young singers are in the running for the scholarship, worth $43,000, and will compete in the finals at the Sydney Con.

The Opera Foundation for Young Australians has announced five finalists for the 2017 Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship: mezzo Fleuranne Brockway, bass-baritone Christopher Curcuruto, mezzo Bronwyn Douglass, tenor Michael Petruccelli and soprano Michelle Ryan. The winner will be announced at a public recital and receive $43,000 toward the development of their career, providing them with the opportunity to study with internationally acclaimed vocal, language and movement coaches in New York.

“The Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship was the first scholarship created by my mother and led to her founding the Foundation in 1963” said Anna Cleary, Chair of The Opera Foundation for Young Australians. “This scholarship has given over 52 young Australian opera artists the unique opportunity of learning from the best in New York to further their careers. It is a scholarship that continues to be highly desirable and relevant to today’s young opera talent. A couple of recent successes include our 2015 winner Elizabeth Lewis being selected into the Gate City Bank Young Artist Program for the Fargo-Moorhead Opera whilst undertaking her scholarship. Elizabeth...