The International Opera Awards is delighted to announce the international audit, tax and advisory firm Mazars as headline sponsor of the 2021 awards, marking the company’s fourth year as headline sponsor of the event.
Taking place as an online event on Monday 10 May, after the planned 2020 live ceremony was forced off stage by the coronavirus pandemic, the virtual event will see the long-awaited announcement of the 2020 winners, as well as paying tribute to the resilience of the opera industry during the past year. The event will be streamed to ticketholders worldwide from 6.30pm GMT on Monday 10 May and available on demand afterwards for a month.
In addition to acting as headline sponsor of the event, Mazars also continues as category sponsor of the Young Singer of the Year award, whose ten international finalists hail from seven different countries. Past winners of the Mazars Young Singer of the Year award include Louise Alder, Wallis Giunta, and Marina Viotti.
Hosted by BBC Radio 3’s Petroc Trelawny, the virtual gala will feature exclusive performances from winners and other famous names. The evening will also raise funds for the Opera Awards Foundation Artist Hardship Fund, established last year to provide emergency grants for young artists affected by the pandemic.
Harry Hyman, founder of the Awards, said:
“As we navigate the post-covid landscape and adapt to an online format, we are particularly grateful to Mazars for their loyalty and continued support, which is testament to their vision and commitment to the arts. Since 2017, the partnership between Mazars and the Awards has been a rewarding and valued one, and we are delighted to welcome them back – virtually this time – for a fourth time as Headline Sponsor.”
David Herbinet, Mazars’ Head of Audit, said:
“Mazars is proud to be sponsoring the International Opera Awards in 2021, continuing our support to the Opera Awards Foundation and the recently created Artist Hardship Fund, after what has been an incredibly challenging time for operatic artists and the Arts as a whole. We look forward to celebrating the sheer talent and resilience of all the nominees.
As a truly international business that is committed to nurturing and supporting young talent within our business, we are excited to be sponsoring the Young Singer category – which showcases the inspirational and international journeys of up-and-coming artists. Very best of luck to all the nominees.”
The Awards, founded by philanthropist Harry Hyman in 2012, aim to raise the profile of opera as an art form, to recognise and reward success in opera and to generate funds to provide bursaries for aspiring operatic talent from around the world. Since 2012 over £400,000 has been raised by the Opera Awards Foundation, going to more than 100 bursary recipients.
In 2020, the Foundation established an Artist Hardship Fund, providing emergency grants to previous bursary recipients facing financial hardship due to the pandemic. In 2021 the Fund aims to re-open grant applications more broadly to other young and emerging artists affected by the crisis.
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Booking for the virtual Gala Event on 10 May is now open, with tickets available for just £10.
To book visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/142505751539