Royal Melbourne Philharmonic

22/08/2026

Congratulations to the following singers who have been selected from a large and incredibly talented field of singers as finalists for the 2026 RMP Aria.

2026 RMP Aria Finalists:

· Rachael Joyce, soprano, 28, VIC (b. Melbourne, VIC)
· Douglas Kelly, tenor, 33, VIC (b. Penrith, NSW)
· Naomi Flatman, mezzo-sop, 31, QLD (b. Baar, Switzerland)
· Bailey Montgomerie, baritone, 27, VIC (b. Sydney, NSW)
· Jack Futcher, baritone, 21, NSW (b. Sydney, NSW)
· Jasmine Kaye, contralto, 24, QLD (b. Sunnybank, QLD)
· Jacqueline Ward, soprano, 35, TAS (b. Brisbane, QLD)

Reserve Finalist:

· Nicholas Matters, tenor, 29, VIC (b. Daylesford, VIC)

BOOK TOUR TICKETS NOW to hear these brilliant performers, accompanied by outstanding pianist Stefan Cassomenos at The Edge, Fed Square, Saturday 29 August at 7pm

The concert will include a full-scale performance of Faure's 'Requiem' and 'Cantique de Jean Racine', featuring over 150 musicians from the RMP Oratorio Festival Choir and RMP Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Wailes.

BOOKINGS: www.rmp.org.au or https://www.trybooking.com/DNPWM

21/08/2026

Hear Faure's sublime "Requiem" as well as the beautiful "Cantique de Jean Racine" and other works at a special 3pm afternoon performance, or at 7pm following the evening final of the 20th RMP Aria Competition featuring six of Australia's best oratorio soloists! The choirs are sounding glorious, and we are looking forward to welcoming back Jeremy Kleeman - Bass Baritone as soloist. Do join us for what will be a fantastic day of music-making.
BOOK NOW: www.rmp.org.au

11/08/2026

Hear Faure's sublime "Requiem" as well as the beautiful "Cantique de Jean Racine" and other works at a special 3pm afternoon performance, or at 7pm following the evening final of the 20th RMP Aria Competition featuring six of Australia's best oratorio soloists!
BOOK NOW: www.rmp.org.au

31/07/2026

Today (Friday 31st July) is the cut-off date for applications to enter the 2026 RMP Aria Competition! Please note that the 5pm deadline has been extended to 10pm for late entries. For application details, rules, and further information, please visit:

https://rmp.org.au/concert/2026/the-20th-rmp-aria-competition/

18/07/2026

Thank you to Daniel Brace from ClassikON for his lovely review of yesterday’s “Evocation” concert.

“Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Andrew Wailes is the master of the swell. He knows how to get the most of that musician and emotional crescendo for maximum pull on your heart strings. And he’s done it again with the marvellous Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Stefan Cassomenos and other members of the The Aurora Australis Quartet…”

The final of four concerts is today at Castlemaine Town Hall at 3pm. Bookings: www.rmp.org.au

https://www.classikon.com/royal-melbourne-philharmonics-andrew-wailes-is-the-master-of-the-swell/

Presenting fine music in Melbourne since 1853, The RMP is Australia's oldest surviving Not for Profit Performing Arts Organisation

18/07/2026

Another beautiful EVOCATION concert today. Thank you to all who attended, and congratulations to Maestro Wailes, pianist Stefan Cassomenos, and of course our beautiful strings and voices for another excellent concert.

The final performance will take place tomorrow (Sunday 19th July) in the iconic Castlemaine Town Hall at 3pm.

Book your tickets via www.rmp.org.au

13/07/2026

CALLING ALL ORATORIO SOLOISTS!

Enter the 2026 RMP Aria Competition. Final to be performed at
The Edge, Federation Square on Saturday 29 August at 7:00pm

Widely regarded as Australia’s most prestigious singing award for oratorio singers, the 20th RMP Aria Competition is open to all singers aged 35 and under at the time of the final who are Australian citizens or full-time residents. Download rules and application form from:
https://rmp.org.au/concert/2026/the-20th-rmp-aria-competition/

NB: DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES 5pm, FRIDAY 31 JULY 2026

For further information, please visit www.rmp.org.au, or email RMP Artistic Director Andrew Wailes: [email protected]

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic
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📷 Paul G Dodd Photography

12/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who braved the cold wet weather to come and hear the RMP’s “Evocation” concert in the beautiful acoustics of the Ballarat Central Uniting Church. There are two more concerts in the series, so book your tickets to hear the last Melbourne show next Saturday, or in Castlemaine Town Hall next Sunday. A lovely way to warm the heart and unwind!

Bookings: https://rmp.org.au/concert/2026/evocation-rmp-choir/

10/07/2026

✨ BOOK NOW | EVOCATION ✨

Experience the power, beauty and wonder of the human voice with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Andrew Wailes.

Hear a stunning program of short choral works from around the world, designed to “uplift, awaken, soothe and inspire”. The program features a number of celebrated contemporary composers, including Ēriks Ešenvalds from Latvia, Hye-Young Cho from Soth Korea, Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, Joseph Rheinberger from Liechtenstein, Australia’s own Iain Grandage and several leading American composers such as Eric Whitacre, Elaine Hagenberg, Frank Ticheli, Dan Forrest, and Michael John Trotta.

Members of the RMP Choir will be joined by outstanding pianist Stefan Cassomenos and the Aurora Australis Quartet, conducted by Andrew Wailes.

Join us in Melbourne, Ballarat or Castlemaine and let this music warm your soul.

BOOKINGS: www.rmp.org.au

07/07/2026