Sydney-based soprano, Ngaire Kirwan has been soloist for over ten years performing a wide variety of works from opera, oratorio, lieder and cabaret. She has performed as both as a soloist and as a chorister with various choral groups including the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Joubert Singers, Vox, Polyphony and the Welsh choir Cantorion. Her highlights as a soloist include Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Faure’s Requiem and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. She has also appeared in Pacific Opera’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute and the Australian premiere of John Tavener’s Lament for Jerusalem with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Having completed a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts combined degree with Honours at UNSW, Ngaire is currently completing her Masters degree in Music and History at the University of Sydney.
Dr Francis Yapp
Francis Yapp is Lecturer in Music at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he teaches courses in music history, ethnomusicology, and music theory. His research focuses on music of the French baroque, especially instrumental music in 18th-century Paris, and music in French liturgical and devotional life. He is also active as a performer on baroque and modern cello.
Tim Harries is currently completing his PhD in empirical musicology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (University of Sydney), where he is a recipient of the prestigious Australian Postgraduate Award. Graduating with a first class honours degree in classical guitar in 2010 (also from the Sydney Conservatorium), Tim realized he had a passion for research, and has never looked back. His current work explores the intersections between information, understanding, and enjoyment in musical experiences.
Beyond his doctoral studies, Tim is interested in student leadership, having served twice as President of the Conservatorium Students Association . He is involved with the National Students Leadership Forum, most recently as a group leader alongside the former Fijian head of state, Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka. He also has a passion for comedy, having served as Revue Director/Scriptwriter for two years, and utilises humour in his performances as one half of the music-comedy duo Liero.
He currently resides in Sydney, where he maintains a busy teaching and performing schedule, and runs several student-support networks for students from single-parent and/or international backgrounds.
Michael Handy
Michael Handy has been performing since age 10, gaining lead children's parts in such shows as Oliver and The Secret Garden. More recently he has performed such diverse roles as Utterson in Jekyll and Hyde, Colonel Fairfax in Yeomen, and the Lead Tenor in The Messiah.
Michael's High Tenor voice is well suited to 18th century repertoire, and he specialises in composers such as Gluck, Mozart, and Rossini, as well as later Operetta, Oratorio, and Musical Theatre. In 2014, Michael won the coveted Oratorio prize in the Sydney Eisteddfod, and was placed 2nd in Operetta. He also travelled to Europe, where he continued his studies in Berlin and Karlsruhe, and sang in a number of successful concerts and masses in Lindau and Breganz in southern Germany. Michael is continuing his studies with well-known baritone Robert Bickerstaff and looks forward to 2015 being an even more successful year for himself and the Camerata.