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Young local star sings Vivaldi |
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Written by Les Fawkes
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Monday, 06 April 2009 |
The Coast can well be proud of its own emerging young Opera singer
Kathleen Parker, who will be appearing in two concerts in April with
the Sunshine Coast Choral Society, conducted by Adrian King, singing
the glorious music of Vivaldi.
Newly graduated from one of the best operatic training institutes in the country, the 27 year-old soprano’s performing career has taken her to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Tokyo, all in the short space of five months, and she has just given a lieder recital at the Custom’s House in Brisbane.
Born in Winnepeg Canada, Kathleen was raised and educated on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, attending Matthew Flinders Anglican College in Buderim, and then the University of Queensland, graduating with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree in 2003.
From an early age, to this day, Kathleen has also studied singing privately in Buderim, with retired Australian Opera repetiteur Rhonda Vickers. ‘I‘ve always enjoyed singing, and loved languages...and Rhonda had a big part in motivating and inspiring me to take on singing as a career’ she said.
| Emerging young Opera singer
Kathleen Parker |
In 2007, following some time
living and studying in Italy, Kathleen was awarded a $250,000
scholarship to attend the Australian Opera Studio in Western
Australia. She graduated in September 2008, also with Honours, and
was awarded the Dux Prize.
She toured to Japan with the company last
December, singing to a packed house in Tokyo with the International
Federation of Arts and Culture. ‘My time in Tokyo was an incredible
experience. We were treated like royalty, and audience members
camped for two days before the show just to get tickets. Our
performance was greeted with thunderous applause and standing ovations.
I definitely want to be seeing that again.’
In
October last year she returned to the University of Queensland to
compete in the Ethel Osborn Prize and was thrilled to receive the
scholarship, worth $4,600, which she will use to travel to London for
auditions and coaching later this year.
But before she goes, Kathleen has agreed to appear with the Sunshine Coast Choral Society.
The first concert includes the Vivaldi Gloria, and Dixit Dominus in which Kathleen will sing with three other young soloists, - Mezzo Soprano Jade Moffat, Tenor Michael Gough, and Bass Samuel Johnson - and a chamber orchestral ensemble led by Trish Corben.
This concert will also include Vivaldi’s Double Trumpet Concerto with soloists Warren Brewer and Lloyd Robins. It will be held at Lake Kawana Community Centre, Sportsmans Pde Bokarina at 7pm on Saturday 18 April.
Tickets: $25, concessions $20 & students $10. Bookings and enquiries 5444 3899
The second concert, at 3pm on Sunday 26 April at the Nambour Uniting Church, will include Kathleen and Jade Moffat singing as soloists with the choir in the Vivaldi Gloria, and excerpts from the Dixit Dominus, and some of the soloists’ own favourites.
These performances will be accompanied by Natasha Koch on piano.
Tickets are $18, and will be available at the door only.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 August 2010 )
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