Piera G Dennerstein

Hello lovely people! I am overjoyed to announce that I have been accepted into the Music Academy International Young Artist Program and invited to sing two operatic roles at the Trentino Music Festival in Mezzano, Italy! To be making my international operatic debut at the age of 24 is a dream come true and I'm ecstatic that I will soon be experiencing this once in a lifetime opportunity.
 
Singing has always been an important part of my life. I studied performance from the age of 6 and, upon graduating from school, was accepted into the Bachelor of Music at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University. Throughout university I worked regularly in opera choruses around Melbourne, including Victorian Youth Opera, Citi Opera and Melbourne Opera. My light opera debut was with Savoy Opera Company at the age of 21. Here I am, wearing the latest fashions, as Casilda in Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Gondoliers':




I graduated from Monash with first class honours, upon which I was awarded the Friends of the Opera Studio Fellowship. This award allowed me to study for a full year as a Studio Young Artist in the 2015 Performance Program at The Opera Studio Melbourne – Gertrude Opera. I enjoyed many wonderful experiences with Gertrude Opera, including playing the Plaintiff opposite comedic genius Max Gillies in Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Trial by Jury'. 





Now, I’m ready to begin exploring the challenges of an international career, and the Music Academy International Young Artist Program is the perfect place for my next step! The faculty of this program is world class, hailing from houses as wonderful as Covent Garden and Deutsche Oper Berlin. I look forward to receiving an exceptional education in all things opera during my 5 weeks abroad.

My participation in this program is subsidised by the local government in Mezzano, however there are still costs involved, such as flights and accommodation, which is why I need your support.

This opportunity will be the launching pad for my international operatic career. Your contribution will be warmly appreciated to help make my dreams come true!

In total, I require around $8000 to do this trip. I'm only asking for $4500 in this Pozible, but I'd be over the moon if we could raise a little more!

Here's my budget breakdown. All sums are in AUD:

- $5303 for tuition, housing and some meals
- $1762 for airfare
- $265 for audition and registration fees
- $186 for travel insurance 
- $106 for sheet music
- $800 for day-to-day expenses

= $8332