Meet the soloists for Ode to Joy

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We have a great line up of soloists for our Spring concert – Bryony Dwyer (Soprano), Anna Yun (Mezzo-Soprano), Pascal Herington (Tenor) and Alexander Knight (Bass).

Anna Yun is currently completing the last year of her degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Rowena Cowley.

Her recent appearances include: Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Rockdale Opera, Andronico, Tamerlano, Mrs.Grose in The Turn of the Screw, Lady Billows in Albert Herring, Teresa, La Sonnambula, the title role of Fede in a rarely performed Scarlatti opera with Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Concert work include: The Highlights of Opera, Opera House, Mahler’s Symphony #3, Beethoven’s Symphony # 9, Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio and Messe op.4, Christmas at the House with Opera Australia, appearances on 2MBS FM Radio, and numerous concerts for various music clubs and societies of NSW.

In 2010 Anna became the first recipient of John Cassim Award for Music as well as the Italian Opera Foundation Language Scholarship. Throughout 2009 and 2010 Anna is performing as a ‘Telstra Wholesale Young Artist’ with Pacific Opera.

Tasmanian born Bryony Dwyer has a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, where she is currently studying with Barry Ryan in the Advanced Opera Diploma.

In Sydney Bryony has performed solos with many prominent arts organisations, including several concert series with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and the role of Amahl in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors for ittybittyoperacompany.

In 2004 she travelled to Denmark to sing for the celebrations surrounding the wedding of Crown Prince Fredrick and Mary Donaldson and in 2007 she returned to Tasmania to perform the role of Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with the Tasmanian Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Myer Fredman.   In 2008 she travelled to Tonga, where she performed for the Coronation of King George Tupou V.

As a member of the Conservatorium Chamber Choir Bryony has performed numerous solos on ABC’s Sunday Live radio program and has travelled to New Zealand to perform in Faure’s Requiem with the Auckland Philharmonic.

She is an active member of the Royal Australian Navy Band with whom she has performed for many Australian and foreign dignitaries, including Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand. Most recently Bryony travelled to Turkey to sing for the Dawn Service on ANZAC Day at Gallipoli.

Tenor, Pascal Herington is completing a Graduate Diploma (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, receiving vocal training under the guidance of Mr. Andrew Dalton. Between 1998 and 2000, he performed with Opera Australia as a principal artist in the roles of Shepherd Boy in Tannhäuser; Cabin Boy in Billy Budd; Amor in l’Incoronazione di Poppea; Yniold in Pelléas et Mélisande. He has also performed at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Olympic Games and as a soloist in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Credits as a tenor soloist include Mozart’s Coronation Mass (KV317), at Christ Church St Lawrence; Pergolesi’s Magnificat, with the Sydney Conservatorium Chamber Choir, broadcast on ABC Classic FM; Mozart’s Requiem (KV626); J.S. Bach’s Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen (BWV43) with the Grazer Domkantorei, Austria; J.S. Bach’s Ein’ Feste Burg (BWV80) with the Sydney Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble; Abraham in Britten’s Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac; Britten’s Choral Dances (from Gloriana); Rossini’s La Petite Messe Sollenelle; and Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit.

Alexander Knight first began singing lessons at the age of 13. He is currently in his 3rd year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying for a Bachelor of Music Performance in Voice. In 2009, Alexander was a member of
the chorus in the Conservatorium production of the Poulenc opera Les Mamelles De Tiresias. He also performed the bass solos for Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai, Beethoven’s Mass In C and Britten’s Rejoice In The Lamb.

During 2010, Alexander has been a soloist at Christ Church St Laurence for the 400th anniversary performance of the Monteverdi 1610 Vespers. Furthermore, he has performed the bass solo for Pergolesi’s Magnificat, as well as the baritone solo for the world premiere performance of Matthew Orlovich’s Communion Of Reparations. Also this year, Alexander has sung with the Song Company at the 16th Canberra International Music Festival, and has had a principal role in the Sydney Conservatorium’s September main production of Nicolai’s opera Die Lustigen Weiber Von Windsor