The 2025 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition Finals took place at The Concourse Concert Hall on 25th September, with five outstanding young artists performing with the Opera Australia Orchestra under conductor Natalie Murray Beale. IFAC is proud to support this cornerstone of Australian vocal development under IFAC Chairman Dr Handa’s patronage, including his long-standing commitment to underwriting the orchestra at the Finals Concert since 1998.

Opera survives when emerging artists are given real-world chances: to rehearse at a professional standard, to perform with an orchestra, and to be heard by the people who can open doors. That’s the purpose of the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition, and why Dr. Handa has backed it for decades, helping turn promise into momentum.

The winner of this year’s Finals concert was 23-year-old mezzo-soprano Sidra Nissen, who received the 2025 Marianne Mathy Scholarship (the “Mathy”). Nissen impressed with Mozart’s Smanie Implacabili from Così fan tutte and a moving account of Ravel’s Kaddish, combining technical polish with musical intelligence and a strong sense of text.

Alongside the Marianne Mathy Scholarship (the “Mathy”), she received a suite of career-building opportunities spanning auditions, professional documentation, awards and travel support.

This year’s finalists also demonstrated a remarkable breadth of artistry:

• Sophie Blades (soprano, NSW, 24) brought style and clean line to Mozart and Donizetti.
• Aidan Hodder (baritone, VIC, 25) showed engaging stage instinct and warm timbre across repertoire from Papageno to Wolfram.
• Brittney Northcott (mezzo-soprano, VIC, 24) combined agility with dramatic focus in Handel and Gounod.
• Wesley Haotian Yu (tenor, NSW, 24) impressed with eloquent phrasing in Mozart and Cilea.

The evening drew a distinguished audience including IFAC International Executive Director Midori Miyazaki, IFAC Board Director David Mortimer AO, and the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss, reflecting the Competition’s national significance and the strength of its network.

Since 1982, the Competition has provided transformative support at a decisive moment in young singers’ careers. IFAC’s partnership with Music & Opera Singers Trust (M.O.S.T.) helps ensure these artists are heard with a full orchestra and in front of the people who can shape their next steps.

For those who could not attend, watch the official Finals video on YouTube.

Follow future Competition announcements to support the next generation of Australian voices: www.aussing.org