Michelle Francis Cook - Vocal Teacher

LAST CALL
APPLICATION CLOSES THIS FRIDAY at 5 PM

🎭🇮🇹 ACCLAIM ITALIAN OPERA MASTERCLASS 2026 🇮🇹🎭
Acclaim Awards

“A ticket to the world stage.”

Every two years, Acclaim presents its prestigious Italian Opera Masterclass — an intensive two-week program designed to develop Australia’s emerging opera talent with a gala finale concert and the announcement of the successful candidates for local and international scholarships.

✨ 12–24 October 2026
📍 Melbourne - Details published shortly
🎶 Up to 8 selected.

🎓 Intensive one-on-one teaching with Maestra Michelle Francis Cook - Vocal Teacher, one of Australia and Europe’s foremost sopranos and teachers, and opera performers.
https://www.mfcvocal.com/michelle-francis-cook-biography
accompanied by the renowned opera conductor and accompanist, Dr. David Ian Kram OM and personlised coaching in the sung Italian with Baritone, Adam Jon.

The Masterclass is open to Australian opera singers aged 18–34 who have professional performance experience and are ready to take their artistry, technique and Italian repertoire to the next level.

Participants will receive intensive training in:
🎵 Vocal technique
🎭 Artistic interpretation
🇮🇹 Italian language and diction
🎼 Italian Repertoire and preparation
✨ Performance skills and professional development.

And there’s more...

At the conclusion of the Masterclass, participants may be considered for the Acclaim Awards Academic Scholarship and/or Acclaim Awards Fellowship, providing further opportunities for advanced vocal training, Italian language tuition and ongoing singing lessons, locally and internationally.

📅 Applications close:
5:00 pm, Friday 14 August 2026
APPLICATION CLOSES SOON!

Applicants must submit two contrasting Italian arias as part of their preliminary audition.

📅 Applications close:
5:00 pm, Friday 14 August 2026

If you are an emerging Australian opera singer with the talent, commitment and ambition to pursue the international stage, this could be your opportunity.

🌟 Eight artists. Two weeks. One extraordinary opportunity!
Could this be YOUR ticket to the world stage? 🇮🇹🎶

👉 Apply here: Acclaim Masterclass Application:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d84d30e137afe6ff507772a/t/698d30175dd87b3e2801493f/1770860567377/Application-Form-2026.pdf

For more information about Maestra Michelle Francis Cook: Michelle Francis Cook
https://www.mfcvocal.com/michelle-francis-cook-biography

Attached Photos: From the 2024 Acclaim Masterclass

Alas all good things must come to an en! Was a thrilling week of adjudication of soloists, duets and ensembles of singing and recitation of poetry and prose. Loved it!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GaVcU3gVX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Some photos of the performances from the Mfc Vocal fundraising concert in Mill Park Baptist Church last Saturday! Featuring Mia Sorella Trio

Only a little over two weeks away!

Coming very soon....
Get ready for an uplifting afternoon of extraordinary live music at the MFC Vocal Contemporary Fundraising Concert! Featuring the brilliant Mia Sorella Trio, MFC vocalists, and special guests Diversity Dreamers Choir, this promises to be a vibrant celebration of contemporary vocal talent.
There will be a variety of genres including Pop, Rock, Music Theatre, Soul and R&B, and Gospel. With over 11 solo artists and the Choir, the performance will be jammed packed with inspiration and fun for all the family.
Mia Sorella Trio is a professional vocal ensemble of soprano and mezzo sopranos. You can find out about them at: www.miasorellatrio.com

Join us as we come together to support Mill Park Baptist Church’s Soup Kitchen and Community Care programs and groups — a wonderful cause making a real difference in the local community!
https://www.millparkbaptistchurch.org.au/

With supper and drinks provided at the interval and entry by donation (from $10), it’s set to be an inspiring event for all.

Details and Enquiries: 0413 172 449
Tickets at the door. Doors open at 1:00PM

Get ready for an uplifting afternoon of extraordinary live music at the MFC Vocal Contemporary Fundraising Concert! Featuring the brilliant Mia Sorella Trio, MFC vocalists, and special guests Diversity Dreamers Choir, this promises to be a vibrant celebration of contemporary vocal talent.

Saturday 25th of July at 1.30PM

Mill Park Baptist Church Auditorium
11 Morang Drive, Mill Park

There will be a variety of genres including Pop, Rock, Music Theatre, Soul and R&B, and Gospel. With over 11 solo artists and the Choir, the performance will be jammed packed with inspiration and fun for all the family.

Mia Sorella Trio is a professional vocal ensemble of soprano and mezzo sopranos. You can find out about them at: www.miasorellatrio.com

Join us as we come together to support Mill Park Baptist Church’s Soup Kitchen and Community Care programs and groups — a wonderful cause making a real difference in the local community!
https://www.millparkbaptistchurch.org.au/

With supper and drinks provided at the interval and entry by donation (from $10), it’s set to be an inspiring event for all.
Gift Vouchers also available.

Details and Enquiries: 0413 172 449

Tickets at the door -Doors open at 1:00PM

Professional young opera singers....

More Than Opera: German-Australian Opera Grant - Events More Than Opera Ltd. German Australian Opera Grant. Melbourne Victoria Australia.

Coming very soon....

Get ready for an uplifting afternoon of extraordinary live music at the MFC Vocal Contemporary Fundraising Concert! Featuring the brilliant Mia Sorella Trio, MFC vocalists, and special guests Diversity Dreamers Choir, this promises to be a vibrant celebration of contemporary vocal talent.

There will be a variety of genres including pop, rock, music theatre, soul and R&B, and gospel. With over 11 solos artists and the choir the performance will be jammed packed with inspiration.

Mia Sorella Trio is a professional vocal ensemble of soprano and mezzo soprano. You can find out about them at www.miasorellatrio.com

Join us as we come together to support Mill Park Baptist Church’s Soup Kitchen and Community Care programs and groups — a wonderful cause making a real difference in the local community. https://www.millparkbaptistchurch.org.au/

With supper and drinks provided at interval and entry by donation (from $10), it’s set to be an inspiring event for all.

Saturday 25 July 2026
1.30pm | Doors open 1.00pm
Mill Park Baptist Church Auditorium
11 Morang Drive, Mill Park

Tickets at the door - no registration required
Enquiries: 0413 172 449

Ahhhh Old school training. The only way to project using the resonators and not singing with by forcing notes with pushing the top without a prepared space.

The voices I hear these days are so much less resonant, well... so much less consistently resonant with students not allowing even space in the throat (top and bottom) for high notes.

Pavarotti also talks about the "colour" of the vowel not to bright at the top. A balance of everything is key - I wish I could have met and learnt from Joan Sutherland how he commends. Fortunately my training in Europe was with teachers who had the same old school technique....

Arturo Melocchi Academy 5.3K likes, 156 comments. "Pavarotti Masterclass: The Truth About Low Larynx — Full Lesson"

It is my pleasure to announce that I am now an official ambassador for the AcAcclaim Awardshttps://www.acclaimawards.com.au/ambassadors

Acclaim undertakes a number of activities for Australia’s young bel canto opera singers, aged 18-32 and these include:

Italian Bel Canto Masterclasses – An intensive two-week Masterclass conducted by one of Australia’s and Europe’s foremost sopranos and teachers, Michelle Cook. Uniquely long, the participants attend every day for two weeks of intensive one-on-one teaching. During the Masterclass we have seen so many artists develop hugely in their two weeks. Only a maximum of 8 Australian best young opera singers are invited to participate from all entries received throughout the country. The Italian Masterclasses are conducted every two years in Melbourne. For further details of our next Masterclass.
Value $5,000 per artist.

Acclaim Prizes – The Acclaim Awards has a new way of providing assistance to talented young Australian artists to help them improve their operatic skills. The first category sees Acclaim offer 3 new awards. The Acclaim Awards Program will have three tiers, known as 1) Academic Scholarship, 2) Italian Opera Award and 3) Grants.

It is intended that for the Italian Opera Award and Grant, the artists will be contributing to the funding required for the activity. Acclaim will make a significant contribution to help enable the activity to occur.

Academic Scholarship – This will comprise 1-3 Scholarships per annum. The Academic Scholarship generally will include two components, 1) Italian language lessons via Skype with Acclaim’s Italian language partner, Italiano & Co, and 2) six months of weekly singing lessons with Michelle Cook.

Italian Opera Award. Italian Opera Award is available for 1-2 individuals every year. An Italian Opera Award comprises an Italian Program. It includes time in Italy at an Academia and/or with a singing teacher or related activities such as a Festival, Masterclass, Summer School, etc.