Orange Regional Conservatorium student Amelia Bland has recently been selected for the Opera Australia 2019 Regional Vocal Scholarship program, incredibly, one of only four high school students in regional Australia.

“I was a bit in disbelief, I hadn’t really thought about it that much, my mindset was mostly on HSC, so it was a bit of a surprise. Now that the HSC is over, I don’t really know what to do with myself,” Amelia laughed.

My Grandma was a music teacher, it was kind of presumed that when I was a child I would go to ‘the con’ and learn piano, that didn’t stick,” Amelia laughed, “so when I was in Year 7 I moved to voice/singing. It’s a great way to express yourself creatively.”

While in Sydney, the week long program will ensure Amelia receives world-class professional training from artistic, music, drama and language coaches, and spend time backstage at the Sydney Opera House before performing in front of Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini.

“I’d like to thank everyone at the Orange Regional Conservatorium, Director, Donna Riles and my teacher Samantha Bartholomeusz, they’ve really been instrumental- pun not intended,” Amelia laughed, “in guiding me towards this, and through my HSC, and through High School really, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their support.”

“I’d also like to thank Opera Australia for the opportunity, I think it’s very important for these opportunities to be offered to rural and regional students, often we don’t get the same chances as those in the city, so this is great! It’s finally sunk in and I’m really excited.”