Southern Cross Soloists announce 2026 Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholar

Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) is delighted to announce soprano Tashana Hardy as the recipient of

the 2026 Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholarship (MSVS) — marking the 11th year of the nationally

recognised program supporting emerging Australian vocal artists.

Selected following a competitive Expression of Interest and formal applicant review process, the

appointment reflects SXS’s ongoing commitment to transparent governance, artistic excellence, and the sustainable development of early-career musicians.

“I am incredibly excited for the Southern Cross Soloists 2026 season and am honoured to be

performing alongside them as this year’s Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholar,” Hardy said. “I have

always had a passion for chamber music and recital singing, I’m so grateful for the trust and

encouragement behind this scholarship.”

Originally from Newcastle, Hardy is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Griffith

University, completing a Bachelor of Music (Classical Voice) and Postgraduate Certificate in Classical Performance. She has quickly established herself as a dynamic performer, appearing with Opera Queensland, Prospero Arts, and Voxalis Opera, and performing roles including Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Pamina (The Magic Flute), and Rosina (The Adventures of Figaro). In 2025, she was also awarded the Pat McKerrow Memorial Award at the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts.

The Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholarship honours the legacy of Margaret Schindler, a passionate

advocate for nurturing emerging singers, and forms a cornerstone of Southern Cross Soloists’

education and artist development programs. Delivered through the SXS Next Gen Program, the

annual scholarship embeds the recipient in a year-long professional pathway that includes intensive mentorship, curatorial leadership training, and side-by-side performance opportunities with leading artists under the artistic direction of SXS’s Artistic Director Tim Munro.

Over the past decade, the Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholarship has supported a growing cohort of outstanding alumni who have gone on to build professional careers across opera, chamber music, and recital performance. Recent scholars include mezzo-soprano Aylish Ryan (2025), bass Jack Bolton (2024), soprano Nina Korbe (2023) and soprano Sara Donnelly (2022), many of whom have continued to appear with leading Australian arts organisations and festivals. Several alumni also maintain strong artistic relationships with Southern Cross Soloists as collaborators, mentors, and returning artists — reflecting the program’s long-term impact and commitment to sustained career development.

In 2026, the Scholar will participate in structured mentoring, develop and present curated chamber music programs, and perform alongside Southern Cross Soloists in concert and regional touring activities — gaining hands-on experience in performance, programming, and professional practice.

As Southern Cross Soloists enters its 11th year of the Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholarship, the

organisation reaffirms its long-standing commitment to championing Australia’s next generation of vocal artists through rigorous, artist-led development and meaningful professional opportunities.

SXS thanks private donor Carolyn Mason for her ongoing support of the Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholarship.