Judith Henley Soprano

Judith Henley studied singing in South Australia and England.  Her first roles for State Opera of South Australia included Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Norina in Don Pasquale, Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Lisa in The Land of Smiles, Alice Ford in Falstaff, and Micaela in Carmen, a role she also sang for the Victorian State Opera.  Judith has performed the role of Violetta in La Traviata for the West Australian Opera Company, Victoria State Opera, State Opera of South Australia, and in Canberra and Hobart.

Judith Henley has performed as a soloist in recital and concert programmes with the ABC orchestras of South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland, and with the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra. Her repertoire includes Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Cantatas and St. Matthew Passion, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, Mahler’s 2nd and 4th Symphonies, Brahms German Requiem, Beethoven 9th Symphony, Verdi Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Rachmaninov’s The Bells and Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.

While resident in Hong Kong she performed the role of Gilda in Rigoletto, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus. Other engagements included recitals and radio broadcasts, appearances at the Hong Kong Arts festival and concerts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
Miss Henley’s debut with Opera Queensland was as Musetta in La Boheme. She also appeared in the Brisbane Light Opera’s production of The Gypsy Baron. She made her debut with Opera Australia in 1989 as Nedda in I Pagliacci and returned to sing Sylva Varescu in the company’s new production of The Gypsy Princess in the following year. In 1991 she sang Donna Elvira for The State Opera of South Australia and Pamina in The Magic Flute in 1993. Her performances as Violetta in La Traviata also for S.O.S.A. received considerable critical acclaim, as did her Mimi in La Boheme for this Company.

Judith stepped in at one day’s notice to sing Cio Cio+- San in Madama Butterfly for The State Opera of South Australia and has appeared with this Company in their Opera in the Park Concerts. She sang the role of the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro for Opera Queensland and was a soloist in the Southbank Riverstage Concert as part of Brisbane Day celebrations; Brahms A German Requiem with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra; Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra; Rachmaninov’s The Bells; Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and a programme of operatic and light opera arias with the Queensland Youth Symphony.

Judith has an extensive recital and concert repertoire which she has performed with many Australian and overseas orchestras, including a Royal Gala performance in Kensington Palace. She also has a busy schedule of corporate engagements throughout Brisbane and regional Qld both as a solo artist and together with an ensemble ‘Jazz meets Opera’. She is actively engaged in the teaching profession as a committee member of the Qld.Chapter of the ‘Australian National Association of the Teachers of Singing’ (ANATS). Judith operates a private teaching practice mentoring young singers, and teaches vocal technique to students in the advanced Diploma of Arts (Acting) at Southbank Institute of Technology in Brisbane. She is an adjudicator and has conducted vocal masterclasses in South Australia, Queensland, and for Opera Qld. 

Contact/Bookings/Enquiries

jsmallacombe@bigpond.com.au

Josephine Smallacombe 0418 443 408