Ava Dodd awarded Verbier Festival’s Prix Yves Paternot

Florence Lockheart
Monday, July 31, 2023

The Irish soprano has won the Festival Academy’s top prize

Dodd adds this new prize to previous accolades including first prize in the Northern Ireland Opera’s Glenarm Festival of Voice Competition, where she was named the 'Young Opera Voice of 2019'. ©Patrick Browne
Dodd adds this new prize to previous accolades including first prize in the Northern Ireland Opera’s Glenarm Festival of Voice Competition, where she was named the 'Young Opera Voice of 2019'. ©Patrick Browne

Soprano Ava Dodd has won the Verbier Festival’s Prix Yves Paternot. The prize was awarded to the 25-year-old Irish soprano for being the most promising musician of the Festival’s annual Academy for young professional musicians.

Dodd receives 10,000 Swiss francs (£8,939), and an invitation to return as a performer in next year’s Festival. She is also eligible for a contribution of up to 15,000 Swiss francs (£13,408) to support her artistic and professional development. This year the Academy, along with the Festival as a whole, celebrates 30 years of bringing a programme of music and events to the Swiss mountain town of Verbier.

Commenting on the role of the Academy in the careers of its students, academy director Stephen McHolm ‘Even for the cream of the crop of young classical musicians—those who possess that indescribable ‘it’ factor of talent and charisma—building a career as a successful touring artist has become more and more competitive and challenging’.

Dodd is a member of the Stadttheater Klagenfurt ensemble and has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, RTE Concert Orchestra, Der Nürnberger Symphoniker, Das Kärntner Sinfonieorchester, and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. She adds this new prize to previous accolades including first prize in the Northern Ireland Opera’s Glenarm Festival of Voice Competition, where she was named the 'Young Opera Voice of 2019'.

This year the Academy received over 2,000 applications for its 223 places. Serving as a ‘career launchpad’ the Academy offers a series of masterclasses alongside development events including an audio recording programme, a creative project development residency and, in celebration of the Academy’s 30th year, a ‘21st Century Artist’ curriculum encouraging students to reflect on ‘what it means to be an artist and how to connect with audiences during these disruptive times.’

The Prix Yves Paternot is awarded in honour of Yves Paternot, founder of the Friends of the Verbier Festival and member of the Foundation’s Board.