"We had an extremely successful eisteddfod for 2021 considering that we had to miss out our 2020 eisteddfod because of situations beyond our control," vocal section coordinator Deirdre Sutherland said.

"We had about 70 singers who came from as far north as Coffs Harbour and as far south as Sydney.

"We finished the (vocal section) with a really great championship night on Saturday and lots of awards were handed out."

The winner of the Open Vocal Championship was tenor Sam Elim, who performed the aria Ombre Mai Fu from the opera Serse by Handel (sung in Italian), and a mesmerising rendition of Onegin's Aria from Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin (sung in Russian).

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"Sam has migrated from Iran and he had just finished 19 exams to register as a GP here in Australia and was feeling very worn out, but he managed to sing his heart out. He was very deserving of the win," vocal section coordinator, Deirdre Sutherland said.

Sam currently has a lead role in Opera Hunter's production of the Verdi opera, La Traviata being performed at Warners Bay Theatre from July 21 to August 21 this year. Another lead in that production is tenor PJ Willis, a former Manning Valley native who used to compete regularly in the Taree and District Eisteddfod.

The runner up of the Open Vocal Championship was Katie Miller-Crispe of Newcastle.

Noah Gooding of Newcastle was declared 20 Years and Under champion, and Emma Highland from Port Macquarie 16 Years and Under champion.

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"She's been coming to our vocal eisteddfod from Port Macquarie since she was about eight years old, and her voice is developing beautifully," Deirdre said.

Hunter Metcalfe from Coffs Harbour was the 14 Years and Under winner. He has been competing at the Taree Eisteddfod since he was seven years old. He will also be competing in the dance section.

Alice Godfrey from Taree was named the 12 Years and Under aggregate winner. Ava Bourne won the Stage Door Canteen scholarship of $300 tuition.

Two stand outs for Deirdre were Stella Hannock and Sarah Dockrill, both of Sydney (Stella was previously from Port Macquarie and has "cut her teeth" on the Taree Eisteddfod). Both young women competed in the Open Vocal Championships and both were awarded Smile Scholarships, sponsored by Mayo Private Hospital, which gives them $750 to go toward tuition fees.

Cassidy Donovan, who competed in the 16 Years and Under, was awarded Best Local Female High School Student and Locky Moulds the Best Local Male High School Student.

Abby Henderson from Newcastle was given the Denva Bird Memorial Award for Most Promising in the 16-20 age group.

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