Soprano Hannah Burton has been named winner of 2026 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition at Chatswood’s The Concourse on Thursday 8 October.

After facing 4 other competitors and joined by The Opera Australia Orchestra, the 25-year old took the grand prize with her performance of Crudele!…Non mi dir from Don Giovanni by Mozart, and O Dieu… Ah! Je ris de me voir from Faust by Gounod.

In addition to the Marianne Mathy Scholarship, Burton was also awarded the Zeny Edwards Educational Grant, the ABC Classic Studio Recording Prize, and the MOST® Audience Prize.

Hannah Burton at the 2026 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition finals. Photo supplied

The Marianne Mathy Scholarship is regarded as the most prestigious award given to young opera singers in Australastia and grants $30,000 towards a program of study and/or singing activities, Lyric Opera of Chicago Ryan Opera Center audition opportunity, the Lili Ussher Prize portrait painting, the Simon Fieldhouse Sculpture Prize, the WinkiPoP Media Prize, an oral history recording by Diana Ritch for the National Library of Australia, and the Mathy Limited Edition Drago Marin Cherina statuette.

Originally from Kootingal NSW, Burton is in her final year of a Master of Music Studies (Operatic Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She graduated with First Class Honours and High Distinction in Classical Voice, studying under Maree Ryan. She debuted as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Prague Summer Nights in Vienna, and is returning to PSN as Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, in Prague at the Estates Theatre in 2026.

Alongside Burton, soprano Emily Davis takes home the Haas German Mentorship Award, Haas Award and Elizabeth Todd Memorial Award, receiving mentoring sessions with distinguished international performer and pedagogue, Prof. Dr. Caitlin Hulcup, and $1,000 cash grant special encouragement award.

Leyland Jones was awarded the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (CVAI) Montreal Scholarship for participation in the summer program in Montreal, and the Linnhe Robertson Prize for private coaching in London.

Soprano Sky Kim received the Royal Northern College of Music Award, granting one year’s fees for the Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Manchester, UK.

Mezzo-soprano Aylish Ryan received the Merenda Legacy Prize, awarding $7,000 towards Italian language study in Italy, a performance engagement with Perth Symphony Orchestra, and $1,000 in promotional credit through the 2MBS Fine Music Sydney Promotional Prize.

All finalists also receive the Opera Australia Finalist Audition Prize, inviting them to audition for Opera Australia Young Artist Program starting in 2027.

In its 43rd year, IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition welcomed National Adjudication from Donna Balson, American-Australian soprano Jennifer Black, Head of the Opera Australia Young Artist Program Dr. Francis Greep, Sydney Conservatorium teacher and performer Anke Hoeppner-Ryan and operatic tenor Glenn Winslade.

More about the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition can be found here.