|
Choreographers and tutors
RUTH GABRIEL
B.Ed. ADPA(Dance) ARAD(Adv)
Choreographer
Ruth was born in Brisbane and has lived here most of her life and loves it! She studied ballet with the Basset School of Ballet, Meryl Hughes Academy of Dance and the Seguss School of Dance, then travelled to London to study at the Dance Centre, Covent Garden with Anna Northcote, John O'Brien and John Raven.
As a teenager she danced with the Queensland Light Opera Company (later as ballet mistress). She also worked with the Ballet Theatre of Queensland under Miss Phyllis Danaher. Ruth commenced choreographing at the age of 15 for various school productions at Somerville House and has worked as choreographer, stagecraft and dance teacher, director and designer with various schools and colleges as well as at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, the then Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education, the Brisbane Arts Theatre, the Lyric Opera of Queensland and the Shoestring Musical Company. She currently works with Ignatian's Musical Society, Savoyards Musical Theatre Society and Harvest Rain Theatre Company.
Ruth is a trained teacher and has taught at primary and secondary levels in a variety of disciplines. She commenced work with the Queensland Youth Choir in 1984 (its foundation year) and has trained and guided various groups within the organization. Ruth also sings with the Brisbane Chorale.
JASON BARRY-SMITH
Vocal Coach and musical director
Since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 1991, Jason Barry-Smith has rapidly established a reputation as one of Australia’s most sought after singers. In 1991 he was awarded the Queensland Conservatorium Medal for Excellence, in 1992 won the Marianne Mathy Scholarship in the Australian Singing Competition, and in 2001 he won Opera Foundation Australia’s Italian Opera Award. He has also studied at the Musikhockschule in Munich, with Professor Hanno Blaschke, during 1989-90 and in London with Janice Chapman in 1999.
His experience to date embraces concerts, opera and music theatre. As a concert soloist he has performed Faure’s Requiem (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra), Haydn’s Paukenmesse (Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra), Bach’s St John Passion (Brisbane Chorale), Butterley’s Lawrence Hargrave Flying Alone (Sydney Symphony Orchestra), Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio and Purcell’s Ode to St Cecilia’s Day (Bach Society of Queensland), The Hoffnung Concert, Bernstein on Broadway and The Lord Mayor’s Gala Concert 2000 (Queensland Symphony Orchestra), Glorious Vienna in Melbourne with stars of Opera Australia, and The Pops Concert at the 4MBS Festival 2000, Tunes Tender and Triumphant with the Queensland Pops Orchestra and the return season of Scotland the Brave in the Melbourne Concert Hall.
Jason’s versatility is reflected in the wide range of roles he has undertaken in both opera and musical theatre. While still studying at the Queensland Conservatorium, Jason performed the title role in the Australian premiere of Billy Budd. Other roles include Enjolras in Les Miserables (Wellington Operatic), Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance (Essgee Productions), Morales in Carmen (Opera Queensland), the title role of Don Giovanni, for which he won a National Opera Award (Opera Queensland), the Boatswain in HMS Pinafore (Essgee Melodies), Dr Falke in Fledermaus (Opera Queensland), Danilo in The Merry Widow (Essgee Melodies), Kiss Me, Kate! (1998 ENERGEX Brisbane Festival), Escamillo in Carmen (Opera 21, Belfast); and Yamadori in Madama Butterfly, the title role of The Barber of Seville and Guglielmo in Cosi fan Tutte for Opera Queensland.
In 2001 Jason was a soloist in the world premiere of Richard Mills’ new work, Symphonic Poems, with The Queensland Orchestra. His opera calendar included his debuts as Papageno in The Magic Flute for Opera Queensland, Marullo in Rigoletto for Oz Opera and Mathieu in Andrea Chenier for The State Opera of South Australia. For the first five months of 2002 he wwas resident at an opera house in Italy.
LEISA BARRY-SMITH
Choreographer
Leisa is a familiar face to Brisbane audiences and has been performing professionally since the age of fifteen. Leisa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the QUT’s Academy of the Arts in 1990, majoring in acting and directing. During her study she played principal roles in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Melba, The Killing of Sister George, Ubu Roi and Technique - The Mechanical Skill of Art. Her directing credits include Charlie the Chicken, The End of the Picnic and Inner Voices.
As a member of close harmony cabaret group, "Vocalpoint" Leisa appeared with a wide range of Australian personalities including Anthony Warlow, Tina Arena, Rhonda Burchmore, Rick Price and Yothu Yindi. She has toured Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan, as well as performing throughout Australia.
Leisa’s music theatre roles include Eponine in Les Miserables, Mary Magdelene in Jesus Christ Superstar, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Wood’s, Sister Robert Ann in Nunsense II, and Sylviane in The Merry Widow. In 1997 Leisa had the pleasure of touring Australia and New Zealand with Simon Gallaher and Jon English in HMS Pinafore in which she understudied and performed the roles of Buttercup and the Absolutely Fabulettes. Their association continued with the Australian and New Zealand tours of Stephen Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum in which she understudied and performed the role of Domina. Concert performances include Kiss Me Kate for the Brisbane Festival, Bernstein on Broadway and Civic Gala Concert with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and the Lord Mayors Gala Concert 2000.
Leisa is also in demand as a scriptwriter and director and has just completed writing and directing several corporate theatre showcases for Opera Queensland.
2001 saw Leisa reprising her Perform Award nominated role as Judy Denmark in the award winning musical, Ruthless. She also toured Queensland in Federation Ragtime, a piece written especially for the Centenary of Federation.
MEGAN SHOREY
Vocal Coach & Choreographer
Prior to relocating to Brisbane, Megan was best known for her comprehensive work at the acclaimed 'McDonald College of Performing Arts' (Sydney) where she coached the likes of Basia A'Hern (Les Miserables), Alana Deroma (Amy) and Tim Draxyl (Sound of Music / She Loves Me / 'Mo' award winner).
Whilst leading the contemporary vocal stream within the college, Megan was also the principal of the 'Megan Shorey Voice Studio' (North Sydney), and assisted with the specialist coaching of some of Australia's leading recording artists at 'Sony Music Australia' in Surry Hills. Other associations were with Macquarie University, Sydney Community College, Wenona School and Bradfield College where teaching, conducting and masterclasses were the prime focus.
Megan has performed numerous stage roles including Maria - 'West Side Story', Florence - 'Chess', and the Narrator - 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'. With theatrical vocal coaching and musical direction also playing a constant role in her musical career, Megan is currently in development for her debut solo album.
Since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium, Megan has become recognised as both an accomplished performer/vocalist and contemporary vocal specialist. With her third Australian studio now operating in Brisbane, Megan is enjoying coaching some of Queensland's finest contemporary voices.
|
