For Darwin-born soprano Lana Kains, music has always been a part of her life. One of her formative memories is singing along to a performance of Orff’s Carmina Burana in which both her parents were participating. By the age of four Lana was singing in choir and at ten she had started private lessons in … Continued
Isobel’s first experience with opera was as a young girl listening to Gilbert and Sullivan CDs on repeat during family road trips, and the performing bug bit early. Growing up learning the violin, clarinet and piano, she found herself transfixed by the world of classical music and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Accepted into the … Continued
Christopher Whalley is an emerging Australian classical singer from Tamworth, New South Wales, currently based in Sydney. He completed a Bachelor of Music Performance (Classical Voice) in 2023 and a Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) in 2025 at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying throughout with Dr Simon Lobelson. Chris’ path into opera has … Continued
Edwina (Eddy) Strobl is an Australian/Austrian theatre and opera director who grew up in Sydney. It was at the Sydney Opera House as a child, while performing in a children’s chorus, that Eddy first discovered the power of live performance and storytelling. After studying History at University College London, Edwina trained in directing and dramaturgy at the … Continued
Blake Appelqvist (they/them) is a Māori (Ngāti Porou) and Swedish multidisciplinary artist who graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre). They are most known for their Green Room Nominated performance of “Romeo” in & Juliet (Michael Cassel Group) and “Clyde Barrow” in Bonnie & Clyde (Joshua … Continued
A graduate of the London School of Musical Theatre, Genevieve debuted as Johanna in Sweeney Todd (Twickenham Theatre), which won the 2015 What’s on Stage Award for Best Off-West End Musical. Since returning to Australia, Genevieve’s theatre credits have included Mary Poppins (understudy Mary Poppins and Mrs Banks; Disney and Cameron Mackintosh); Johanna in Sweeney … Continued
Having completed her tenure as a Young Artist with Melbourne Opera in 2022, soprano Jane Magão made her Opera Australia principal cast debut as Musetta in the 2024 national tour of La bohème, and returns in 2026 to perform the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni. Her previous operatic roles, performed with various companies, include … Continued
Bethan Lillicrap joined the cello section of the Opera Australia Orchestra in 2025. She was born in Devon, England and moved to Sydney as a child. Her early musical education was guided by her parents, both of whom are musicians. Bethan obtained her Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium, studying with Andrew Hines and … Continued
Madeleine’s most recent credits include the national tour of Grease for which she was the Associate Choreographer and Swing as well as Elf! at the Sydney Opera House. Other recent credits include the national tours of Hairspray as Dance Captain/ Swing understudy Velma and Margaret in 9 to 5: The Musical for Crossroads Live and … Continued
Shortly after graduating from NIDA, Matthew won the lead role of Princeton & Rod in Avenue Q. Other musical credits include Titanique; Murder for Two – Adelaide Cabaret Festival; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Jekyll & Hyde; High Fidelity; Gypsy; Fiddler on the Roof; Kinky Boots; Into the Woods; Meet Me in St Louis; A Gentleman’s Guide … Continued