Rob Guest Endowment announces 2014 semi finalists

After auditioning over 200 applicants in the initial round, 30 young performers have been selected to progress as semi-finalists for the 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Award. Now in its 6^th year, the prize is awarded annually to an emerging musical theatre performer selected by a panel of industry experts. It seeks out Australia’s brightest and most talented young rising stars.

The semi-finalists for 2014 are: Daniel Assetta, Ben Bennett, Hilary Cole, Andy Cook, Thomas Davis, Daniel Downing, Vivien Emsworth, Anna Freeland, Nelson Gardner, Nick Hedger, Matt Holly, Georgina Hopson, Loren Hunter, Graeme Isaako, Kirby Lunn, Seann Matthew Moore, Katie McKee, Lauren McKenna, Emily Mercurio, Joel Parnis, Daniel Raso, Joshua Robson, Angela Scundi, Rebecca Selley, Zach Smith, Monica Swayne, Connor Sweeney, Karla Tonkich, Tarisai Vushe and Sophie Wright.

All 30 semi finalists will all perform in front of a panel of judges in Sydney on August 11 to determine the six Finalists. The finalists will then show off their talents at the Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert.

The 2014 winner will take home $20,000 and runners up will each take home $1,500. The prize is intended to help a current artist in the musical theatre genre gain the performance experience, media training, guidance and a public image to help them become a leading artist in the Australian musical theatre industry.

Past winners and finalists of the Rob Guest Endowment Award are performing in lead and supporting roles in musical theatre around Australia, including Gretel Scarlett (Sandy in Grease), Ed Grey (Boq in Wicked), Euan Doidge (Marius in Les Miserables) and Francine Cain (Frenchy in Grease).

The late Rob Guest had a career that spanned over 40 years, making him a much loved musical theatre star and a household name to audiences throughout Australia and overseas. In 2008, in recognition of the late Rob Guest OBE and his achievements in the musical theatre industry, ANZ Trustees established a memorial fund in his honour to help emerging young performers in musical theatre. The Rob Guest Endowment has established itself over the past five years as a wonderful scholarship for young artists to develop as performers through experience, travel and tuition.

This year, with the support of Destination NSW and ANZ, the 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert will be held on Monday 13 October, 2014 at Capitol Theatre, Sydney.

Meet The Semi Finalists