Marking its 40th year, the IFCA Handa Australian Singing Competition has returned to the stage after a two-year hiatus. The vocal competition for emerging artists in opera and classical music in Australasia offers a range of scholarships, cash prizes, masterclasses, workshops and career opportunities, with the prestigious $30,000 Marianne Mathy Scholarship as the major award.

Finalists Jeremy Boulton, Jake Bigwood, Kristin Astouroghlian, Younji Yi and Billie Tumarkin with National Adjudicator Graham Pushee (centre). Photo supplied

Five competitors were chosen by National Adjudicator Graham Pushee, the acclaimed counter-tenor and Managing Director of Arts Management, to progress to the finals, following their performance in the semifinals on 28 August at North Sydney’s Independent Theatre. The semifinalists were chosen after heats around Australia in July.

The five finalists for 2022 are: Kristin Astouroghlian, a 27-year-old mezzo-soprano from Victoria; Jeremy Boulton, a 23-year-old baritone from New South Wales; Jake Bigwood, a 26-year-old bass from Western Australia; Billie Tumarkin, a 25-year-old soprano from Victoria; and Younji Yi, a 25-year-old soprano from New South Wales.

Astouroghlian was a finalist at the 2022 Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship. She completed a Master of Music Performance (Opera Performance) at...