Zoe Drummond has been awarded a scholarship worth $43,000 after wowing the judges with her emotional performance.

Soprano Zoe Drummond has been announced as the recipient of the 2016 Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship, awarded by the Opera Foundation for young Australians. Zoe’s assured performance at the Scholarship Finals set her apart from five other finalists, netting her the prestigious award. The 24-year-old singer from New South Wales will receive $43,000 to work with internationally acclaimed vocal, language, and movement coaches in New York.

A Sydney Conservatorium graduate and Melba Opera Trust Scholar, Drummond is no stranger to these competitions, placing second in the Mietta Song Competition earlier this year.

“From a very strong field of singers, Zoe stood out for her warm and rich voice, her technique and maturity for someone so young,” said Guy Noble, Head Adjudicator of the 2016 Scholarship Finals and member of the Opera Foundation’s Music Advisory Council. “I am a bit of a pessimist, so I certainly didn’t think that I would win,” Drummond told Limelight. “But, I worked incredibly hard for this competition and had all my fingers and toes crossed that it would be my time!”

“Winning the Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship is...