Amidst tough competition, Tabatha McFadyen has been awarded first prize at this year’s contest.

Tough competition didn’t deter Brisbane-based Tabatha McFadyen, who was yesterday awarded first prize and $5,000 at the Mietta Song Competition.

The biannual competition has been held since 1995, and promotes the performance and wider appreciation of art song. This year’s adjudication panel included some of Australia’s finest musical minds: Professor Mel Waters, Yvonne Kenny AM, Michael Smallwood and Anna Goldsworthy.

Melbourne tenor Brenton Spiteri came in second place, and was also awarded the Arnold and Mary Bram prize for the best performance of an Australian song. Leigh Harrold, also from Victoria, received the Hugh D T Williamson prize (consisting of $5000 in prize money) for pianists. Harrold also accompanied two of the four finalists during their performances at the Iwaki Auditorium on Sunday.

McFadyen also won the O’Donnell family prize, the Audience Choice prize and the Murray River Festival Prize, awarded by previous winner Siobhan Stagg.

A comprehensive list of finalists and winners can be found here.

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