Along with Australia's new Governor General David Hurley, internationally renowned violinist, composer and conductor Richard Tognetti, singer and actress Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Australian science communicator and author Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, the globally renowned Australian opera and musical performer feels blessed to have enjoyed a childhood in the Illawarra.

Born in Wollongong in 1961 Warlow has been honoured as an Australian National Treasure and a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the performing arts,

The classically trained lyric baritone who has entertained audiences around the globe lived in Wollongong for the first 18 years of his life until he made his debut with the Australian Opera. He then went on to perform on Broadway, Washington, the West-End, Carnegie Hall and all over Australia. But his hometown is never far from his mind.

"My family home was where the private hospital is now. Babies are being born at the site of my old bedroom," he said

"I was born in Wollongong Hospital across the road. I have been back many times. But I was not sure how I felt about the house not being there any more. I lived there until I was 18 and left to join the opera company".

When he got his break in 1980 Warlow stayed in Sydney and would come back and visit family and friends regularly.

He recalls being well prepared when his career began because of the opportunities he had in Wollongong.

"The Arcadians were a great group of people," he said.

"They were absolutely significant in preparing me for my career. They were very supportive encouraging to me as a young artist. It was exciting to be involved.

"I was also at the Conservatorium where I studied classical music and singing.

"I had a great social time as well. When I got my drivers licence it was wonderful. Because I liked to go out and party with my Arcadian friends".

Warlow said it was great to see the 50th anniversary of the Arcadians celebrated five years ago. He said the Wollongong Eisteddfod also provided him with great experience.

"I was dreadful at the eisteddfods," he said.

"But I did come first in one. I was singing bass-baritone after my voice broke. I sang an aria from the Magic Flute. It was good preparation. A year later I did my first Mozart opera and sang another song from the Magic Flute"..

Warlow said he had many fond memories from his childhood and loved coming back and seeing how the city has changed.

"I attended Edmund Rice College for all my schooling," he said.

"I came back to Wollongong for a good visit a year ago and I was driving around looking for old buildings and shops I recognised. But there are so many new buildings now.

"It was a town when I left not a modern city like it is now. It is every exciting to see everything happening with all the new complexes and buildings".

Along with his many leading roles Warlow has featured in many studio recordings over the last three decades. The Jekyll & Hyde double CD was a huge seller and he will perform the songs in three concerts with Jemma Rix.

On October 25 and 26 they are performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Arts Centre Melbourne.

And on November 2 they will be performing in Sydney at ICC Darling Harbour Theatre with the Sydney International Orchestra.

Illawarra fans who travel to Sydney or Melbourne for one of the concerts will hear Warlow do many well known songs such as the haunting and powerful This Is The Moment.

Concertworks is presenting the concerts that will feature the score of pop rock hits from multi Grammy and Tony nominated Frank Wildhorn with the Book and Lyrics by double Oscar and Grammy winning Leslie Bricusse.

Based on the "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, Jekyll & Hyde was originally conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden.

Anthony Warlow lead musical theatre roles include:

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