Eden Shifroni named as 2025 recipient of Alastair Jackson International Opera Award

Tuesday 28 January 2025

The Alastair Jackson International Opera Award (AJIOA), managed by Melba Opera Trust, provides full funding to support two years of tuition and living expenses at the Royal College of Music, enabling Eden to complete a postgraduate Artist Diploma.

Eden Shifroni, currently in her second year as a Melba Artist, will begin her studies at the Royal College of Music in September 2025. She commented: ‘I was absolutely shocked when they offered me the Award, but I’m so grateful because this is the perfect next step for me. The stars lined up very nicely. Moving across the world alone is daunting, but it’s a necessary leap for an Australian singer aspiring to make it on the international stage.’ 

The most valuable opera award in Australia, the AJIOA is open to any Australian singer up to 30 years of age, with auditions held in Melbourne and London. The selection panel, led by the Royal College of Music’s Head of Vocal & Opera, Nicholas Sears, considered applicants not just for their vocal ability but also their potential for a successful career in opera. 

Nicholas Sears commented: ‘Eden stood out from a strong field in terms of sheer vocal quality, artistry and musicality, proving herself to be the most fitting recipient of Alastair’s wonderful generosity and the aspirations of the Royal College of Music/Melba Opera Trust partnership. And we all look forward to working with Eden to provide this outstandingly talented young artist with the best preparation for her future professional career.’

Amy Black, CEO of the Melba Trust, praised the opportunities ahead for Eden: ‘Eden has had an incredible time with Melba, but she now needs to perform roles on stage with an orchestra, and that’s what she’s going to get through the Award’s partnership with the Royal College of Music’s opera programme. It’s the perfect nurturing ground, where singers can really develop their craft.’

Find out more about the Royal College of Music’s Vocal & Opera Faculty which is designed to nurture each student’s individual talents and aspirations, building the skills, artistry and confidence of singers so they leave fully prepared to meet the demands of the profession. The RCM Opera Studio offers one of the leading advanced training courses in the world, replicating professional performance conditions with fully staged operas in the RCM’s Britten Theatre.