A number of Wholesale’s customers gained valuable insights into emerging market opportunities followed by operatic performances by some of Australia’s emerging opera stars at a recent Telstra Wholesale-hosted customer forum held in Sydney.
At the Market Connections forum on 17 November in Sydney, Telstra Wholesale unveiled its new sponsorship arrangement with Australia’s Pacific Opera Company, an arrangement designed to promote shared growth of both the company’s budding opera talent and Wholesale’s relationship with its customers.
Telstra Wholesale Executive Director Commercial Operations Warwick Broxom said Telstra had long been a supporter of Australia’s sporting and artistic communities and this new partnership was an opportunity for Telstra Wholesale to play a role in promoting the arts.
“At Telstra Wholesale, we are delighted to be able to support the Telstra Wholesale Young Artists Program, as a business-arts partnership that allows us to have a direct hand in the development of some of Australia’s leading young opera artists.
“Our customers will be part of this effort as they are exposed to the young artists at our customer events and can follow the journeys of these young artists as their careers develop.”
Pacific Opera General Manager Julie Taylor said the company was thrilled to be joining with Telstra Wholesale in a partnership which would see increased opportunities for the company’s aspiring opera stars to perform to even wider audiences.
“Pacific Opera’s annual program offers a rare chance for emerging opera singers to gain performance opportunities and professional development at an early stage in their career – something not easily available in Australia. We now have a wonderful opportunity to work in partnership with business to develop our talented young artists and prepare them for the demanding profession of opera.
“We look forward to introducing our talent to Telstra Wholesale’s customers and to their being a part of developing Australia’s future opera stars.”
At the Market Connections Forum, Pacific Opera’s singers Amanda Hutton and Naomi Johns were accompanied on the harp by Genevieve Lang they entertained guests with repertoire by Handel, Offenbach and Gershwin.
NAOMI JOHNS
Born in Perth, Naomi completed a year of Music Theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts before moving to Sydney in 2004. There she commenced a Bachelor of Music Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Naomi has completed in recitals at the Sydney Conservatorium, as well as many appearances for Western Australia’s Royal Schools of Music Club, Lieder Society and the Joan Sutherland Society. This Year Naomi made her film debut as part of the featured ensemble of Jonathan Mills opera-film, ‘Eternity Man’, which screened as part of the Sydney film festival. Naomi was a finalist for the 2008 Young Performer of the Year Award. In 2008 Naomi has also toured nationally with Opera Australia's New Production of ‘My Fair Lady’.
AMANDA HUTTON
Amanda Hutton studied at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Music (Performance) and a Graduate Diploma of Music (Opera Performance) in 2001. In 2004, she went on to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music completing her Master of Music in 2007. Amanda has performed the roles of Hansel in the children’s opera ‘Hansel and Gretel’, and Cassandra in the children’s opera ‘The Sound Garden’ (for Opera Queensland) and Jodie the Juggler in the children’s opera ‘Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing‘ (for Oz Opera). Amanda has appeared as an ensemble member in productions of ‘Andrea Chénier’ and ‘Tosca’ (for Opera Queensland), ‘Così fan tutte’, ‘Turandot’, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘Otello’ (for Opera Australia).
GENEVIEVE LANG
Genevieve Lang, based in Sydney as a freelance harpist, has held the position of Guest Principal Harpist with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra since 2000. With a hectic performing and teaching career, Genevieve divides her time between Sydney and Hobart. Sydneysiders will have seen her onstage as Guest Principal and section harpist with the Sydney Symphony, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. She has featured in several ABC FM direct broadcasts and live recordings, as well as in studio sessions for film scores and CD releases, with artists such as Teddy Tahu Rhodes, David Hobson and Sara Macliver. Genevieve has toured throughout Australia, Europe, Asia, and the United States with the Sydney Symphony, the Tasmanian Symphony, and the Australian Youth Orchestra. She has appeared as soloist with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
