When Jessica Harper takes the stage it is like the rest of the world fades away.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Standing before a muted crowd of dozens at the Wesley Uniting Church on the Mall, the classically trained singer delivered a powerful rendition of Vincenzo Bellini’s Qui la voce in Wollongong Eisteddfod’s prestigious operatic aria on Sunday.
It was an impressive performance by the 24-year-old, who discovered her passion for opera by chance preparing to see Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème at Sydney’s Opera House as a teen.
‘‘I wanted to know what I was in for so I dug out a CD from mum and dad’s very prolific collection of classical CDs, found La bohème and had a listen,’’ Ms Harper said.
‘‘I listened to the first act and it ends with the most exquisite love duet ever. When I heard that it completely blew my mind and I just thought: I want in on this.’’
Ms Harper followed her passion, singing in choirs and performing in musicals at school, before enrolling in a classical singing music degree at the Australian National University.
She has since graduated and taken up a position in the Pacific Opera’s Young Artist Program, recently beating a pool of 40 at Cowra Eisteddfod’s operatic aria solo with the same Bellini piece.
‘‘It’s one of the hardest pieces of music I’ve ever had the pleasure of sinking my teeth into,’’ she said.
The Newtown talent was one of 26 classical singers scheduled to take part in Sunday’s open age event, each vying for a place and share of the $11,000 prize pool.
The Wollongong Eisteddfod will continue with verse speaking solo competitions on Tuesday.
Saturday, May 30
OPEN AGE FRENCH ART SONG SOLO
■1st Bronwyn Douglass (Kirwan)
■2nd Pamela Andrews (Rockdale)
■3rd Joelene Griffith (Mount Kuring-gai)
■HC Emily Turner (South Brisbane)
■HC Jessica Harper (Newtown)
OPEN AGE ITALIAN SONG SOLO
■1st Bronwyn Douglass (Kirwan)
■2nd Sung Sun Hong (Richmond)
■3rd Shanul Sharma (Camberwell)
■HC Geoffrey Knight (Darlinghurst)
■HC Joelene Griffith (Mount Kuring-gai)
■HC Nikki Hill (Mosman)
OPEN AGE VOCAL SOLO
■1st Matthew Reardon (Yagoona)
■2nd Bronwyn Douglass (Kirwan)
■3rd Emily Turner (South Brisbane)
■HC Chanyang Choi (Minchinbury)
■HC Pamela Andrews (Rockdale)
OPEN AGE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ART SONG SOLO
■1st Pamela Andrews (Rockdale)
■2nd Anastasia Bickel (Holland Park)
■3rd Bronwyn Douglass (Kirwan)
■HC Emily Turner (South Brisbane)
■HC Kate Wilmot (Woonona East)
■HC Shanul Sharma (Camberwell)
OPEN AGE VOCAL SOLO
■1st Kirsten Jones (Bargo)
■2nd Anastasia Bickel (Holland Park)
OPEN AGE LIEDER SOLO
■1st James Olds (Burraneer)
■2nd Sung Sun Hong (Richmond)
■3rd Soonki Park (Homebush Bay)
■HC Anastasia Bickel (Holland Park)
■HC Laura Scandizzo (North Strathfield)
OPEN AGE AUSTRALIAN COMPOSER SOLO
■1st Bronwyn Douglass (Kirwan)
■2nd Joelene Griffith (Mount Kuring-gai)
■3rd Laura Scandizzo (North Strathfield)
■HC Jessica Harper (Newtown)
■HC Phoebe Humphreys (Narrabeen)
OPEN AGE LIEDER SOLO
■1st Joelene Griffith (Mount Kuring-gai)
■2nd Pamela Andrews (Rockdale)
■3rd Bronwyn Douglass (Kirwan)
■HC Chanyang Choi (Minchinbury)
■HC Jessica Harper (Newtown)
Sunday, May 31
OPEN AGE OPERATIC ARIA SOLO
■1st Sung Sun Hong (Richmond, Victoria)
■2nd Matthew Reardon (Yagoona)
■3rd Joelene Griffith (Mt. Kuring-gai)
■HC Chanyang Choi (Minchinbury)