Suzanne Shakespeare

In September of 2008, Suzanne will take up a scholarship for the Artist Diploma in Opera in the Graduate school at the Royal College of London, Britten Opera Department.

In 2008, Suzanne has already performed in Victorian Opera’s Puccini Gala as the role of Musetta from La boheme, and was the lead role of Elmire in the Australian premiere of Amalia’s Erwin and Elmire. Suzanne also performed in the Opera in the Park Concert with the City of Stonnington.

Throughout 2008, Suzanne will perform the role of Susanna in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro with Melbourne Opera, The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote as a Guest Artist with the Victorian College of the Arts (broadcast nationally in May and staged at the Prahran town Hall in June), Marie in Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment with Lyric Opera of Melbourne and cover the role of Adina in Donizetti’s Elixer of Love with Victorian Opera.

Suzanne will also be involved in numerous oratorio performances including Handel’s Messiah with both the Choir of Christ Church South Yarra and The Monash Chorale Society, and Mozart’s Requiem with The Chorale.

In 2007 Suzanne performed the role of Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with Melbourne City Opera, Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen with Melbourne Opera and Rosina in The Barber of Seville with Opera Australia’s Oz Opera, Schools’ Company.

Suzanne also performed as soprano soloist in the 2007 Victorian Opera’s ‘Sing your own Opera’, in the chorus of Victorian Opera’s production of Stravinsky’s Les Noces and Opera Australia’s production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore.

Suzanne has been a Finalist in a number of internationally recognised opera competitions throughout 2007, including the McDonald’s Operatic Aria (McDonald’s Performing Arts Challenge Sydney), the German Operatic Award (Opera Foundation), and the Covent Garden Scholarship (Opera Foundation).

Also in 2007, Suzanne won the Armstead Singing Award (The Musical Society of Victoria), the Geelong Operatic Aria (Geelong Eisteddfod), was runner up in the Ringwood Aria (Ringwood Eisteddfod) , and received the Encouragement Award in the inaugural Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Aria Competition.

Suzanne features in The University of Melbourne’s Choir of Trinity College ABC recording of Wilcox’s Southern Star and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem at the 2007 Port Fairy Music Festival. Suzanne has also been a regular soloist with the Melbourne Welsh Choir and performed with the Monash University Chorale Society, The Astra Choir, The Choir of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (Melbourne) and the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra.

2006 has seen Suzanne perform as Arianna in Lyric Opera’s Australian premiere of Vivaldi’s Il Giustino and Medora in Melbourne City Opera’s Australian premiere of Verdi’s Il Corsaro, as well as chorus in Victorian Opera’s production of Bach’s St. John Passion , Opera Australia’s productions of Puccini’s Turandot and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

Suzanne’s 2006 concert repertoire includes performing Wilcox’s Southern Star with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with Gloriana, Mozart’s ”Great”Mass in C minor with Melbourne Chorale and The Victorian College of the Arts Orchestra, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore and Exultate Jubilate with the Victorian Youth Orchestra, and with the Melbourne University Choral Society and the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra in Pergolesi’s Magnificat, Vivaldi’s Magnificat in G minor and C.P.E. Bach’s Magnificat Wq. 215.

In 2006 Suzanne was a Finalist in the Herald Sun Aria, winner of the McDonald’s Performing Arts Challenge Opera and Arts Support Group Vocal Scholarship, winner of the Melbourne Welsh Choir’s Singer Of The Year award, runner up in The Musical Society of Victoria’s Armstead Singing award, winner of the Soroptimist Society Aria from Grand Opera award, and winner of the Lythgo Trust Operatic Aria award.