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WELCOME TO THE CITY OF WARRNAMBOOL EISTEDDFOD 2026

To be read in conjunction with the CITY OF WARRNAMBOOL EISTEDDFOD REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS/RULES AND REGULATIONS (see www.warrnambooleisteddfod.org.au)

SENIOR VOCAL/CITY OF WARRNAMBOOL ARIA

Adjudicator: Ms Liane Keegan

Accompanist: Ms Phillipa Safey
Phillipa is available for rehearsals in Melbourne before the competition – please contact her directly at 0410 882 204 or phillipasafey@gmail.com
All music must be emailed as a PDF to the accompanist by 14 May 2026 (or earlier). Manuscript copy will not be accepted.
Competitors must supply two hard copies of their music for each work upon registration - one for the adjudicator, one for the accompanist.
Arias and Oratorio pieces must be in the key it is written in for the respective Opera and Oratorio. In the other sections the singer may choose a comfortable key.
Session times: Session 1 (Lieder) – Saturday at 11 am; Session 2 (Oratorio and Art Song) – Saturday at 2:30 pm; Session 3 (Aria Heats) – Saturday at 6:30 pm; Aria Final – Sunday at 2:30 pm.
To be eligible for Session 3, entrants must have competed and paid for both Session 1 and Session 2.
To be eligible for the Aria Final, entrants must have competed and paid for Session 1, Session 2 and Session 3.
During the Aria Heats (Session 3) competitors will be required to sing an operatic aria of their choice preceded by recitative (if any), from the standard repertoire of grand opera.
Up to six competitors will be selected to be finalists in the Aria.
All finalists must be available to sing in the Aria Final at Christ Church, Henna Street, Warrnambool. Finalists must be available for an interview with the adjudicator at least one hour before the commencement of the final section. A competitor not available will be disqualified.
For the Aria Final competitors must have prepared at least three operatic arias. Each finalist will sing two arias in the Final. One being the aria presented in Session 3 (Saturday evening), and another to be chosen by the adjudicator from a list of two other arias submitted by the competitor.
In the Aria Final competitors are required to introduce their arias and briefly describe their character.
A previous winner of the City of Warrnambool Aria may not enter again for a period of three years after having received the award.

CHRIS HAYES MEMORIAL AWARD

This will be awarded to a first-time participant as encouragement to attend the following year’s Aria. The 2026 winner of this award will be determined by the adjudicator and will cover their fees and expenses of the Aria competition in 2027, up to a total of $600.

This award is in memory of our former long-time Aria Convenor, Chris Hayes, who passed away suddenly in 2023 and was a staunch supporter of the City of Warrnambool Eisteddfod. She was a wonderful, caring friend to many.

THE CONVENOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT LATE ENTRIES.