Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition & Wexford Festival Opera Announce New Partnership

For over 20 years the Veronica Dunne International Singing competition has brought to the fore many new exciting voices. Throughout its history Wexford Festival Opera has featured and nurtured many of the rising stars and new faces of Opera. Today it was announced that these two renowned organisations are forming a new alliance which will see them working closely together.

As part of this new alliance, Wexford Festival Opera will host one of the audition heats, the Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera will be the orchestra for the competition Final held in the National Concert Hall, Dublin and the winner will be given an opportunity to perform with the Festival.

Today, Dr Veronica Dunne also announced that applications are officially open for the 2016 competition. For full details see www.vdiscompetition.com. Applications close 18 September, 2015.

Artistic Director of Wexford Festival Opera, David Agler was on the jury for the 2010 competition. Speaking of the announcement today he said, "I warmly welcome this alliance between two iconic Irish institutions, both dedicated to discovering the next generation of promising singers. I know that Dr Dunne and I take great pride in the contributions that her Competition and the Festival make in helping to launch the careers of so many gifted artists. And to have the splendid Wexford Festival Orchestra become the Orchestra of the Competition is a great satisfaction, as well. The combination of the unique strengths of both our organizations will ensure the viability and success of the Competition for many years to come. We will go forth together to make the VDISC one of the world's great musical events."

Established in 1995 and occurring every 3 years, the 8th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition will take place from 22nd to 28th January 2016. Founded by Ireland's Grande Dame of singing, Dr Veronica Dunne, the competition finds and fosters vocal talent and helps build international careers. "I am excited about this alliance and embarking on this journey', Dr Dunne said. Together we can build on the success of the competition and the achievements of our singers to date".

Booking for the 64th Wexford Festival Opera is now open. The Festival will run from 21 October until 1 November, 2015 featuring three evening operas: Koanga by Frederick Delius, Guglielmo Ratcliff by Pietro Mascagni and Le Pré aux clercs by Ferdinand Hérold and three daytime ShortWorks operas: The Portrait of Manon by Jules Massenet, Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck and Tosca by Giacomo Puccini, as well as concerts, lunchtime recitals, lectures and talks. The 12 day Festival will feature 52 events in total. For more information see Wexfordopera.com.

The 64th Wexford Festival Opera is grant-aided by the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, and Wexford County Council.

Engagements

Performance opportunities in Ireland and abroad will be offered, in principle, to successful competitors. These will include:

Wexford Festival Opera

Music Network Ireland

RTÉ (Irish radio/television orchestras)

Wigmore Hall, London

Elizabeth Rose-Browne

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Wexford Festival Opera

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The Wexford Festival Trust

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Patron: His Excellency, Michael D.Higgins, President of Ireland.

President: Sir David Davies.

Directors: Ger Lawlor (Chairman), Sean Benton, David Byers, Patrick Caulfield, Paul Cleary, Mary Gallagher, Dr. Cate Hartigan, Paul Hennessy, Ted Howlin, Geraldine Karlsson, David Maguire, Eleanor White.

National Development Council

Terry Neill (Chairman), Michael M. Collins SC, Jim Donnelly, Mary Finan, Eithne Healy, John Healy, Trevor Jacobs, David Lane, Judith Lawless, Declan Lynch, Dr. Oran McGrath PhD, John Reynolds, Dr. Sarah Rogers.