Virginia Blunt held the position of Tutti Violin in the Opera Australia Orchestra after first joining the Orchestra in 1987 following her return from studying and performing in London for 18 months. Over the course of her studies Virginia has achieved the following qualifications: ASCM, B.MUS with Merit from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, LRAM, … Continued
Huy-Nguyen Bui holds the position of Associate Concertmaster in the Opera Australia Orchestra. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, where he started studying violin aged six, Nguyen went on to study under Jan Tawroszewicz at the University of Canterbury when he was ten. Nguyen first joined the Orchestra in the position of tutti violin while studying for … Continued
Born in Tasmania, Sarah Jane completed her Bachelor of Music with Honours at Elder Conservatorium in South Australia in 2006. She joined the State Opera of South Australia Chorus in 2007, and was a John and Diana Ramsay Young Artist in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, she appeared as First Sprite in The Magic Flute … Continued
Until December 2024, Joshua Clarke held the position of Principal Trumpet and Section Leader in the Opera Australia Orchestra, having first joined the Orchestra in 2008. Starting his musical studies at the age of nine, Joshua, under the tutelage of Gordon Webb, Daniel Williams and Daniel Mendelow, went on to complete a Bachelor of Music … Continued
Hailed by the New York Times as a soprano of “gleaming sound, free and easy high notes, agile coloratura runs and lyrical grace,” Jessica Pratt is considered one of today’s foremost interpreters of some of bel canto’s most challenging repertoire. Since her European debut in 2007 as Lucia di Lammermoor, Ms Pratt’s schedule has included … Continued
“Tomas Dalton’s casting reminded this reviewer of one of his earliest experiences of “La Traviatia” by the Sutherland-Williamson Opera in 1965 when the already internationally acclaimed ex-pat Aussie Joan Sutherland brought an unknown Italian tenor to play Alfredo. His name – Luciano Pavarotti. Who knows what Tomas Dalton’s future holds?” (Alan Slade, J-Wire 2022) Tomas … Continued
In 2014, Kosky was voted ‘Opera Director of the Year’ at the International Opera Awards in London and at the same awards in 2015, the Komische Oper was voted ‘Opera Company of the Year’. His most recent work at the Komische Oper Berlin has included The Magic Flute (co-directed with 1927), which has been seen … Continued
Allan Watson held the position of Associate Principal Timpani and Tutti Percussion and after almost forty years, he gave his last performance as a permanent member of the Opera Australia Orchestra in May 2024 before retiring from his full-time position. We celebrate and pay tribute to his long and distinguished performance career.
David Clarence holds the position of Principal Timpani in the Opera Australia Orchestra having first joined the Orchestra in 1986. David started his musical studies at the age of eight and attended Sydney Conservatorium High School. Fun fact: The Baz Luhrmann production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of David’s favourite memories with the orchestra. … Continued
Thomas Dundas holds the position of Tutti Violin in the Opera Australia Orchestra having first joined the Orchestra in 2010. Tom started his musical studies at the age of four, and under the tutelage of Wanda Wilkomirska and Patinka Kopec went on to complete a Bachelor of Music at Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Postfraduate Studies … Continued