Yvonne Kenny AM (born 25 November 1950) is an Australian soprano, particularly associated with Handel, Mozart and bel canto roles.
After a year of studying there, she went to England, where after a few recitals and TV appearances, her breakthrough came on 11 October 1975, when she replaced, with only four days' notice, the soprano scheduled to sing in an Opera Rara concert performance of Donizetti's Rosmonda d'Inghilterra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
She often returned home, appearing at the Sydney Opera House in roles including: Mélisande, Manon, Leila, Micaela, Fiordiligi, Pamina, Alcina and Cleopatra.
[2] In 2009, Kenny appeared as Blanche DuBois in the Australian premiere of André Previn's adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire for Opera Australia.
The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to music in Australia.