Announcement: Our 2026 Opera Prize Winners
Victorian Opera is delighted to announce the winners to our 2026 Opera Prize, an annual award for emerging artists that recognises impressive operatic talent. The 2026 recipients are: Rachael Joyce (soprano), Bailey Montgomerie (baritone), and Alessia Pintabona (soprano).
The Opera Prize represents a core part of Victorian Opera’s ethos to provide pathways and foster the careers of the next generation of performers. Recipients will be engaged by the company across the year, commencing in January, where they will have the opportunity to work as ensemble and principal artists in our mainstage productions, education programs and special events.
In addition, they will be guided and mentored by our dedicated Music Department, led by Head of Music Phoebe Briggs and Artistic Director Stuart Maunder.
“Victorian Opera provides an essential foundation for young Australian artists, with past Opera Prize Winners going on to perform in the some of the world’s most prestigious theatres,” CEO Elizabeth Hill-Cooper says.
“Bailey, Rachael and Alessia have starred in our past productions to great critical acclaim. We’re so excited to help them hone their craft even further, and continue to thrive.”
Rachael is currently starring in our Lewis Carroll-inspired production Boojum!, taking on the role of Alice. She also performed as the vivacious Mary Crawford in Jonathan Dove’s adaptation of Mansfield Park, alongside Bailey and Alessia. This is her second year as an Opera Prize Winner.
“Next year I’m so thrilled to be coming back to Victorian Opera to work with more wonderful creatives in exciting upcoming productions, as well as continuing to hone my skills and repertoire with the amazing music team,” Rachael says.
Bailey is also returning for a second year as an Opera Prize Winner. They’ve starred in Victorian Opera’s education production of The Lyrebird’s Voice, in our mainstage production of Katya Kabanova, and more.
“2025 has flown by and, despite working hard on so much new music, I’ve barely scratched the surface of this amazing repertory,” Bailey says.
“In 2026 I’m most excited to undertake role studies of some of the great roles for a baritone of my age and vocal quality. It’s always a delight sinking my teeth into such amazing music with the Company’s expert team of musicians.”
Alessia has also featured in Victorian Opera’s past productions, including as Joanna in Victorian Opera’s production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, both in Melbourne and on tour in Dubai.
“I am so excited and honoured to continue honing my craft and skills with the wonderful creative teams and colleagues at Victorian Opera. I can’t wait for all the new music and stories to be explored and shared, the memories to be made, and to be a part of shows that remind me of why I was initially drawn to opera and theatre!”
Professor Barbara van Ernst AM, Joy Selby Smith and Jane Lowther will generously sponsor Alessia Pintabona as an Opera Prize recipient.
Our Opera Prize Founding Patrons Dr Michael Stubbs and Malcolm Roberts will continue their commitment in 2026 supporting both Bailey Montgomerie and Rachel Joyce as Opera Prize recipients for a second year.
Join Rachael, Bailey and Alessia, alongside 2025 Opera Prize Winner Michaela Cadwgan, at The Big Christmas Sing in Ballarat on 30 November.
