Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Launches 8th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition

The 8th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition was launched by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys T.D. at the Royal Irish Academy of Music today. Over the past 21 years the competition, which is now run in association with Wexford Festival Opera, is established as an Irish musical event of international standing that offers a global stage for the encouragement and development of Irish and international vocal talent.

The competition was inaugurated in 1995 to honour the lifetime's work of Dr. Veronica Dunne, Ireland's Grande Dame of singing. Dublin born Veronica has had a glittering operatic career on the world stage, and has devoted her life selflessly to the training of young voices. Amongst her students who have gone on to enjoy international careers are Suzanne Murphy, Patricia Bardon and Tara Erraught. Veronica currently teaches at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and is a constant presence on the Irish and international opera scene. She is a dedicated advocate of vocal music education and she has been a key influencer in the success of hundreds of singers due to her teaching methods and commitment to her students.

Previous prize winners of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition include Nadine Sierra, who opened as Gilda in Rigoletto in the Metropolitan Opera New York earlier this month, Tara Erraught, currently lead mezzo-soprano with the Munich State Opera and Irish soprano Celine Byrne.

The competition, which is run under the aegis of Friends of the Vocal Arts, takes place from the 22-28 of January at Trinity College and the National Concert Hall, Dublin with the final taking place in the main auditorium of the National Concert Hall accompanied by the Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera.

Discussing the competition, the Minister for The Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD states: "Veronica Dunne is Ireland's most famous teacher of classical singing and many of Ireland's internationally renowned opera singers will have benefited from her mentoring and care. It is therefore fitting that a competition which offers a global stage for the development of Irish and international vocal talent holds the title of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition."

"This singing competition has, over the last 20 years, been an invaluable resource for the development of Irish and international operatic talent and my Department and I are proud to support its work. I have no doubt that, similar to the previous 7 competitions, the 2016 Veronica Dunne International Singing competition, will prove to be a fantastic showpiece of some of the best emerging talent in the operatic world, not just in Ireland, but on a global scale."

Speaking about the competition, Diarmuid Hegarty, Chair of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, said: "This competition opens the door of opera to young performers and creates an international platform for those who wish to begin a career in the vocation. Together with our colleagues at the Wexford Festival Opera and supporters including the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Griffith College, Merrion Hotel, KPMG and many others we are excited about the competition in January and are overwhelmed by the calibre of this year's entrants."

"Our mission at the moment is to broaden the international footprint of the Competition and we feel that we are achieving that by the international auditions this year. The Competition this coming January will be a truly splendid event to launch our celebration of the 100th anniversary of 1916."

Veronica Dunne founder of the competition, comments: "My aim with this competition is to help the young singers of today to succeed in the international world of opera and to find jobs for them on the great opera stages of the world. I feel we are achieving this more and more with each successive competition."

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