It might have seemed that the winner of the Marianne Mathy Scholarship, Anita Watson, had lost her voice over the last few weeks. In truth, she had been asked to keep silent about her imminent involvement in the big celebrity wedding that rocked Sydney last weekend.

 

On Sunday 25^th June however, Anita was able to deliver some exquisite soprano tones for an A-list congregation in Manly.  Being engaged to sing at the wedding ceremony of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban is something any young singer would want to celebrate, but only afterwards could the well-guarded secret be revealed.

 

While in Germany several months ago undertaking studies funded by her Mathy Scholarship, the twenty-five year old from Chatswood was booked by her agent to sing at a wedding in Sydney.  Anita didn’t realise she had scored the ‘gig’ of the year until the identity of the glamorous couple was finally disclosed to her only a few weeks ago. 

 

From the choir loft of Manly’s Cardinal Ceretti Memorial Chapel Anita led the singing of the hymn Praise my soul the King of Heaven.  Standing in the chancel during the signing of the register she performed the aria Chi il bel sogno di Doretta from Puccini’s opera La Rondine.  While the piece is a favourite of hers, the aria was specially requested and she believes it was Nicole’s mother who chose all the music for the ceremony.  Anita said she had sensed that the congregation would have liked to applaud and was delighted when one of the Urban clan mouthed to her that her singing was “beautiful”.

 

The young soprano said she wasn’t too nervous before the event, having had one rehearsal in the chapel and another with her distinguished accompanist Kate Golla, but she did find singing at such celebrity nuptials a “surreal” experience, especially with stars like Hugh Jackman present.  She also noted the extremely tight security: even the musicians were asked to hand in their mobile phones.

 

Anita thought the bride had looked wonderful and the setting was magical,  with white carnations and lilies adorning the chapel and thousands of white candles around the aisles and the altar.  She said that Nicole and Keith looked very happy together and seemed deeply moved by the whole occasion.

 

Singing Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 as the handsome bridal couple left the chapel, Anita was particularly thrilled that a glowing Nicole, now Mrs Urban, turned to whisper an appreciative “thank you”.

 

This year is turning out to be an exciting one for the Mathy winner, and Anita said it had been a thrill to be involved in something as “beautiful and classy”.

Click here for Anita Watson's biography