On Saturday 1 October, Jeremy Boulton was announced as the winner of this year’s prestigious IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition. The 23-year-old baritone from New South Wales received the $30,000 Marianne Mathy Scholarship, which comes with the opportunity to audition for the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s artist-development program, and the inaugural $6,250 Nicole Car Prize, which enables him to travel to Paris and be mentored by the acclaimed soprano.

Australian baritone Jeremy Boulton. Photo © Jasper Burrows Millican

Now in its 40th year, the competition was held at the Concourse Concert Hall in the presence of His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley.

Boulton competed alongside four other singers: 27-year-old mezzo-soprano Kristin Astouroghlian from Victoria, 26-year-old bass Jake Bigwood from Western Australia, 25-year-old soprano Billie Tumarkin from Victoria, and 26-year-old soprano Younji Yi from New South Wales.

A former recipient of the Opera Australia Student Scholarship and graduate of the Talent Development Project, Boulton has featured as a concert soloist with ensembles in New South Wales and Tasmania. He is the winner of both the Margaret Olive...