James Young, a young Victorian Bass Baritone, last week won the MTO-GAOG award (More Than Opera – German Australian Opera Grant) and audience prize, in front of an enthusiastic full-house at The Edge, Federation Square.
James was Central Melbourne’s 2019 Rotary NGSE (New Generations Service Exchange) recipient. The Rotary exchange has enabled James to realise his life’s passion, beginning an opera career in Germany. While on exchange, James gained complete fluency in German, completed a Masters of Music at Nuremberg and had the opportunity to perform, including at various Rotary Clubs. These experiences impressed the award’s international adjudication panel.
MTO-GAOG was founded in 2001 by our Arts Committee Chair, Dr David Kram AM and arts philanthropist Hans Henkell. Fellow Rotarian Anthony Battaini currently chairs MTO. The award enables the winner to spend a year as a fully paid principal singer at a major German Opera House, includes travel, Goethe-Institut language training in Berlin, a cash prize and other rewards.
James is the 20th recipient of the award, and follows many outstanding young Australians whose international opera careers have been launched by the MTO-GAOG award.
Thanks to Anthony Battaini for this article.
