Melba Opera Trust has announced a new scholarship in honor of John Wegner AO.

The scholarship, established by Wegner’s widow, Mignon Wegner, aims to support the development of young Australian opera singers.

Wegner was a German-born baritone who had a strong international career, singing prominently at Opera Australia as well as Bayreuth. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 69 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2014.

“It takes more than just talent to have a good career as an opera singer, so I hope that the John Wegner AO Opera Scholarship will help someone with vocal talent gain the other skills they’ll need to succeed in a career on the opera stage,” said Mignon Wegner per an official press release.

The scholarship will be funded in perpetuity as set up by Mignon Wegner. It will be administered by Melba Opera Trust.

“We are very proud that a perpetual scholarship has been established in honour of the late great baritone John Wegner AO. The scholarship will ensure that John’s contribution to the operatic community will continue to be remembered for generations to come and will help young aspiring singers to follow in his extraordinary footsteps,” added Amy Black, CEO of Melba Opera Trust.