- Rachelle graduated with a Bachelor
of Music Degree from WAAPA , Edith Cowan University, in1997. While
studying there, she performed numerous operatic roles and developed an
extensive concert repertoire ranging from Baroque composers through to
Sondheim. This versatility as a performer has led to opportunities to
perform with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and other leading
orchestras and ensembles in Western Australia.
Awarded the Ralph Thompson Memorial
Scholarship in 1998, Rachelle undertook studies at London's Guildhall
School of Music with world‑renowned accompanist Roger Vignoles and
senior lecturer Paul Hamburger. She then toured Italy with the Trio di
Romanza.
After 2 years as a Young Artist with
the West Australian Opera, Rachelle made her solo debut with that
company in 1999 as Polly Peachum in Kurt Weill's 'The Threepenny
Opera' for the Festival of Perth and was then cast as Stephano in
'Romeo and Juliette' by Gounod. She recorded several recitals for the
ABC, including the national broadcast of the ABC Young Performers
Vocal Final with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and a live‑to‑air
national broadcast of Menotti's opera 'The Old Maid and the Thief',
singing the role of Laetitia.
In 2000 Rachelle was involved in
Opera Australia's Schools Programme in Victoria, performing Pamina,
Queen of the Night, 1st Woman and Papagena in 'The Magic Flute', as
well as experiencing considerable success in competitions, culminating
in the Finals of The Australian Singing Competition's Mathy Awards in
her hometown of Perth.
Rachelle began the year 2001 with an
engagement understudying a principal role in Mozart's 'Mitridate' for
the Sydney Festival before leaving to pursue language studies in
Germany.
Competing as the regional finalist
in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in New York, Rachelle was selected
as one of 5 winners in the Finals and was invited to join the
Lindemann Young Artist Program at the Metropolitan Opera for 2 years.
She made her Met debut on April 1, 2002 in a production of
Wolf-Ferrari’s Sly starring Placido Domingo and, later in the
year, performed the role of the First Flowermaiden in Parsifal
with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and James Levine at the Salzburg
Festival.
In 2002
Rachelle returned to Australia for The Spirit of Britain concerts with
the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and again performed in Australia in 2003
as Blonde in The Abduction from the Seraglio for West Australian Opera
and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni for Opera Queensland. In New York she
sang Barena in Jenufa and the First Flower Maiden in Parsifal for the
Metropolitan Opera, where she continues to perform in 2006. She will
also appear in concert with José Carreras.
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For
Rachelle's testimonial,
click here.
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Please
direct enquiries to: Patrick Togher Artists' Management
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Tel. (02) 9319
6255.
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Email: pjtogher@ozemail.
com.au
