Winner of the 2022 Herald Sun Aria competition, Austin is a countertenor from Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia based in London.

Austin made his professional opera debut in May 2023 as Liang Shanbo in Richard Mills’ new opera, The Butterfly Lovers with Victorian Opera and Wild Rice in Singapore. In June 2023 he also performed as a principal soloist in a new commission, The Consort of the Moon, for the Rising Festival in Naarm|Melbourne. Other recent roles have included Aeneas in Pepusch’s Death of Dido (New Chamber Opera), the Spirit in Dido and Aeneas (Victoria Chorale), and Nyukhin in Samuel Hogarth’s The Evils of Tobacco (New Chamber). Austin’s recent solo repertoire has included Vivaldi’s Nisi Dominus, Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, and Bach’s cantatas, Laßt uns Sorgen, Laßt uns Wachen and Gott Soll Allein Mein Herze Haben.

Having grown up between Kā-Muriwai in Aotearoa and Naarm/Melbourne, Austin studied a BA and a Masters in Medieval and Renaissance literature at the University of Oxford where he was supported by the J A Scott Prize, Gibbs Prize, and a Michel Scholarship. He has been lucky to receive support in his musical studies through scholarships with the Oxford Bach Soloists, and the Choir of Queen’s College Oxford. Austin was the grateful recipient of the Tait White Loewenthal Memorial Scholarship and the inaugural recipient of the Isla Baring Award through the Tait Memorial Trust.

Austin has been praised by The Age for his ‘lustrous tone’, ‘effortless production’, and ‘passionate musical communication’ (2021). While appearing as a soloist with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in 2021, his performance was celebrated as a ‘gripping display of virtuosity’ (Limelight Magazine), while the Sydney Morning Herald noted his ‘poised pure sound and smooth line’. In October 2022 Austin won the prestigious Herald Sun Aria competition in Naarm/melbourne, being awarded the winning medownick Prize of $35,000, designed to allow a young singer from Australasia to further their musical career. He was also the winner of the City of Kingston Aria from Grand Opera in September 2022, and won the 2022 Eisteddfod by the Bay’s Oratorio category.

In the UK, Austin performs with ensembles such as Instruments of Time and Truth, New Chamber Opera, Burghclere Baroque, and the Schola Cantorum of Oxford. His recent solo performances have included Bach’s BWV 169 ‘Gott Soll Allein Mein Herze Haben’, and BWV 213 ‘Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen’, Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Samuel Hogarth’s 2003 piece of music theatre for countertenor, The Evils of Tobacco. Austin has also recently organised and performed a series of recitals centred around the music of Italian castrato Giusto Tenducci as well as the music of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Austin trains with Miriam Allan in the UK and is fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn with teachers and musicians including Dame Emma Kirkby, Paul Dyer, Miriam Allan, Michael Burden, Laurence Cummings, and James Conlon. Austin is incredibly grateful for the generosity and kindness of those who have supported and mentored him in his journey as a musician. He especially extends his gratitude to those who have generously aided his vocal development through their financial support, including the TAIT Memorial Trust, Eugénie White, and Isla Baring in the UK and the Doctors Alla and Mark Medownick from the Medownick Laser Clinic in Narrm/Melbourne. Austin will begin a masters in vocal studies on a full scholarship at the Royal College of Music in September 2024.

Austin is also a published poet, and writes in both English and te reo Māori (the Māori language). His poem, ‘Kawekawe kōrero’ won takahē journal’s 2023 Monica Taylor Poetry Prize. He is passionate about the revival of the Māori language and wants to help create a world where indigenous languages and their knowledge systems are shared and celebrated everywhere.