Local finalists

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 13

Local finalists

DIANE LOW. soprano, has enjoyed singing and shows since earlv childhood.

She took part in a Canterbury Children's Theatre production of "Listen to the Wind" at the age of 14 and followed her interest in the stage and music by starting to study singing al 20.

In 1977 she toured with the now disbanded New Zealand Opera Quartet.

Now. at 32. she has worked for three years with the NewZealand Opera Company and also belongs to the Christchurch Operatic Society and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

She has played Eliza in "My Fair Lady." Eurydice in "Orpheus and the Underworld" and Dolly in "Hello. Dollv."

Diane prefers stage work and the lighter type of music and has sung in cabaret and competitions as well as oratorio.

Like Jillian Bartram and John Harker, she is tutored bv Mary Adams-Tavlor. ’ JILLIAN BARTRAM, soprano, is one of the three finalists eligible for the study scholarship. She is a 25 year old teaciier of music and English at Rangiora High School.

J Ilian was in the 1979 Mobil final and has also been a finalist in the Sydney Sun Aria.

She has performed with the National Opera Company in “La Boheme" and “the Marriage of Figaro." She has also belonged to the Christchurch Harmonic Society and the University Singers, and is a current member of the Jubilate Singers. She has been tutored in singing for eight years. JOHN HARKER, who describes his singing voice as a

light baritone, learnt to read music with the Woolston Auxilliary Band.

He was with the band as a cornet player until the age of

John then moved on to the school orchestra and an interest in a more classical style of music.

Besides the cornet, he has also played the trumpet and the French horn, but an accident which knocked out some of his lower teeth put an end to that in 1968.

However, he was already singing and at 34. has been singing for about 14 years. John belongs to the Aurelian Singers, a group formed by his tutor, and his preference these days is for recital singing, such as Schumann and Schubert lieder songs. He has completed seven

years of Saturday night cabaret work. JANETTE RILEY, another soprano, has "always" enjoyed singing and the lighter type of music. " She entered singing competitions at school and since, and has taken part in "The Yeoman of the Guard." She has conducted Saint Martin's Choir and belonged to the Harmonic Chorale, and she sings once a month at the Coronation Hospital with the Neighbourhood Bible Studies group. Opera is Janette's first love but she is also fond of Messiah-type music and of jazz.

For the last 16 months she has been under the guidance of Angela Shaw.