Looking for an Opera and Musical Theatre singing teachers in Perth!

Hi, I've just relocated to Perth from Sydney, and am looking for two singing teachers - one for musical theatre and one for classical/opera training (female soprano, 22 years). If any teachers are reading this and offer these styles, I'd love to hear from you! Or, if there are any students reading this who know of a good teacher, any advice would be wonderfully appreciated. I'd be happy to return the favour if anyone would like advice on the theatre industry in Sydney (where I've spent 4 years). Just for reference, I've trained in musical theatre for 3 years, and have done just the basics for opera, which is the style I'd really like to develop. My goals are to prepare for the WAAPA and the various Conservatorium auditions next year (I want to follow in the footsteps of Marina Prior's career, who amazingly manages a career in both genres). Thanks for reading, and good luck to you all! Anezka

Not sure how helpful this is given you are probably living too far away perhaps - or maybe not... A brilliant singing teacher lives in Mandurah and teaches both styles. She is a retired professional Opera singer herself - used to sing with the Sydney Opera company. She now teaches at local schools and has private students - but she doesn't take just anyone - you have to audition and if she sees potential and she has room, she will take the new student on. I do know there is one student who attends WAAPA who is originally from Mandurah and who returns here for her singing lessons with this teacher. My daughter is taught classical/opera with this lady who also teaches musical theatre. I've also heard those who've been taught by her who sing more modern pop stuff - whatever genre, seems she can teach it. Her kids win stuff :) Her kids go places. My daughter is just 9 and since being taught by this teacher, has achieved amazing things and generally wins what she enters and I'm continually surprised the number of people who have heard of her (my daughter that is) and "know" of her (purely due to her singing) and I'm always asked who her singing teacher is... And some of you might know or have heard of another young local Mandurah 12 year old girl, Shoreina Perreira, who is also taught by this same teacher - everyone here has heard of Shoreina and those that haven't, live under a rock. She attributes her success to this singing teacher, too. And whilst there are those who will point out these 2 kids must have special talent to begin with, that's a fair enough thing to say, however, the difference with different singing teachers says a lot too. Their singing teacher finds the gold in the voice - she's just that good. My daughter has had 3 different teachers in the past few years - this one is by far the best - her teaching and the results are visibly and obviously superior. This wonderful singing teacher is Patrina Bishop. I can't give you her phone number here - that wouldn't be appropriate, but if you are really interested, you can email me privately and I'll check with her and if she has room I can give you her number. But I would need her permission first. (She chose Mandurah to live when she retired because her family chose to retire here... and I only mention this in case you think well if she's that good, why choose Mandurah to live... she's had enough of the glitz and bright lights :)) DFE

Hi Anezca, Welcome to WA! I sing in the WA Opera chorus and can recommend several people. My teacher is my biggest recommendation- Megan Sutton. She teaches a large % of the WA Opera chorus and taught many of WA's most successful opera singers at one point or another through their time at WAAPA- including Emma Matthews, Fiona Campbell, Aldo do Toro, Paul O'Neil, Luke Gabbedy, (I think) etc. she also teaches current WAO young artist Jamie Clayton. So there are def runs on the board- she and Janice (classical voice at WAAPA) are both leaving WAAPA this year as well, so will prob have more time avail for new students. Contact WAAPA fpr their details, or email me direct (neville@tetrafide.com) depending on your experience and skill level there are also several members of the chorus who are decent teachers. contacting WA Opera or the Opera Studio in Midland would also be good starting points. there are others I know only by reputation, and as such wouldn't feel comfortable making a recommendation. hope this helps. MT teachers- I think most of the best are already at WAAPA, but also know that most of them are absolutely full. Maybe try Ian Westrip at Stage Door? remember that any decent teacher will want to hear you first. It is important that both you and the teacher are comfortable that you fit each other. Neville

Hi I rang WAAPA years ago and they recommended Terry and she has been my teacher ever since. She's ace and can do all styles. Terry Burridge 33 Gloster St Subiaco WA 6008 ph: (08) 9381 9146 Cheers Talei

Just to back up the first post , I'm also a student who has just started with Petrina Bishop and she was the vocal coach for a production I was in. If you are interested is really is worth coming to Mandurah for. She is an amazing singer herself and her students themselves are amazing. Three of her singers , one of them the girl Shoreina mentioned before , plus two 17 yr old girls have just been cast in a new locally written and produced opera. It is a paid performance which is pretty impressive for girls aged 12 and 17. Believe me when her students sing, I get chills down my spine. She has taught both males and females of various ages from primary school to adults with amazing results. If she is able to accept you , it would be well worth it.

Looking at your info I see you are (or were?) an MCC student! This is a strong assumption on my part - Flapper was put on by MCC and there are a couple of other things that give it away :) What a small world! You might know my daughter too, maybe - Shania. You wouldn't know her from middle or senior school because she's only in the junior school, grade 4 this year - this year Patrina put her with the senior choir too so she sings with both now (jr and sr choirs) and loves every minute! She went away last year and this year with the senior choir to music camp... She's much younger than Shoreina, but side by side, she's a bit taller than her. Or if the name doesn't ring any bells maybe you've just heard her described as the little soprano from junior school... (It's how I've heard people try to describe her when they don't know her name... it's become a kind of nickname now :) Apart from Shoreina, Shania is the "other" student at the college who is "into" Opera... Are you still at MCC? Or have you left now? Where do you do drama studies? Is there a local place here in Mandurah you can study this? I thought kids had to go to Perth - or is that what you have to do too? Sorry for all these questions, but your answers may be useful for me down the track when one day Shania will be 17 and will be looking for specific training perhaps :) Donna

Hi Donna My name is Kelsi, I am still at MCC, but only just. I'm yr 12 this year. I have heard of your daughter before, in fact I saw her perform last year, I was stage manager at the Junior School Variety Night, I remember being so suprised that some one that young has such an incrediable voice ! The school offers Drama Studies in Yr 11 and 12 as TEE course, and you can do it as a subject from Yr 9. Within Mandurah I know you used to be able to Drama at Impressions, it does modelling,dancing, etc. It used to located on Pinjarra Road and the last I heard of it, it was somewhere in Falcon (?) I think. I also know of a youth theatre group called Primmadonna Productions that is has kids from about 7 -15. I know its fairly popular, I think the info may be around on this site somewhere . MPAC also has a youth theatre group, but I think you have to be 15 so that may be useful in a few years time. Thats all I know of, I think as you get older there are more oppotunites within mandurah. I know a couple of people who started doing MPAC productions at around 13. Hope some of this helps Kelsi

Hi Kelsi, thanks for that info... it certainly does help! Yes, know about Primadonna productions - Carole has a waiting list of over 100 kids. Shania is on the list but considering one kid might leave every 4 years... Shania may be a very old lady by the time her name comes up :) You know of the other local places that put on stage shows and stuff? I know one of them has advertised on this site - I saw them when I was looking for something else. They now put on shows out of the new Mandurah college? Over near Tafe somewhere in, is it Greenfields? That area. And the Murray-Mandurah Drama Group do a lot of shows each year you can try out for as well - they advertise their shows and auditions in the papers. And I know some kids go as far afield even as Rockingham and Kwinana. We haven't gone as far as Kwinana yet but Shania did Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat with the Rockingham theatre group in August - they don't advertise auditions in our papers though - I only found out because Shoreina's mum saw it in the paper and told me... but if you get on their mailing list they will keep you informed of things like that if you're interested. I think I have their address somewhere so if you are interested let me know and I'll get it for you. And I don't know what part you did in front or behind the scenes with Flapper but congratulations anyway - that was the most amazing show! Every single student involved deserves the hugest applause - we went and saw it and were blown away by the professionalism and it was so entertaining and went so smoothly... Maybe I'll see you at one of the next variety nights! Donna

Hi Donna, Yes I know the group your talking about , it's Mandurah Little Theatre that are out at the College. I saw a show advertised in the paper coming up soon although I think it may be around the time of my exams so I might have to give it a miss. I would love the address for the Rockingham theatre group if you have it. I plan to start auditioning for anything and everything next year . I love theatre but have been limited to mostly school based things because of Yr 12 and TEE etc. Thankyou for your comments on Flapper aswell. It was such an enjoyable experience to be in. I had both onstage and offstage roles so I became really involved in the show. I glad that the audience was able to get so much out of it after the all hard work we put in. Also thanks for the info on the dancing :) Kelsi

I think there is probably some info about them on this site somewhere... but there address is 8 Attwood Way, Rockingham and if you ring this number: 9527-6763 someone will give you info on how to find out about shows coming up and auditions - and maybe they can/will put you on their mailing list. I did find them on this site on this link: http://www.theatre.asn.au/company/rockingham_theatre_company There is a gentleman named Barry Page mentioned and his phone number given which is: (08) 9591 2360 You could try that number direct. Good luck :) Donna

Thank you everyone for your personal recommendations! :) DFE, Patrina sounds like a wonderful teacher. Yes, please do email me her contact details to anezkasero@yahoo.co.uk. That's very kind of you. As long as Mandurah is accesible by public transport, this hobbit is willing to make the Journey! All the best for your daughter. Will she be auditioning for the Cons? Talie, I'll get in touch with Terry too. Subi is so close to me. I'm glad you're enjoying her classes, good luck with it! Neville, thanks for your advice - yes I've heard about Megan. WA Opera...good for you. You must have some amazing stories. So happy to see such friendliness in the WA theatre community. It certainly takes the edge of the Sydney homesickness! :) Once again, thank you all and all the best, Anezka ps. will let you know how my Search for the Teacher gets on!

I too would love to be able to contact this lady, as I am looking for a singing teacher too. I live in Rockingham and can access Mandurah with no probs. If anyone can email me contact details that would be cool :-)

I too would love to be able to contact this lady, as I am looking for a singing teacher too. I live in Rockingham and can access Mandurah with no probs. If anyone can email me contact details that would be cool :-)

Sorry didnt give email address (duh!) contact me cherryallen@bigpond.com

Hi Cherry - I've just sent you a private email. If you didn't get it you can email me privately at viking@southwest.com.au... basically all it said was my daughter just so happens to be having a singing lesson tomorrow afternoon and I will ask Patrina if she has room for new students and if so if I have her permission to give those interested her phone number... I have your private email address so when I hear back from her I will email you. Cheerio, DFE

Can you please send me Patrina bishops email address. I am 17 years old and my passion is singing.

hi to anyone out there reading this, im a newbie to the whole musical theatre world and have thoroughly enjoyed performance, i would like to do more singing and shows and was wondering if anyone knew of any musical theatre/singing teachers south of the river that might consider teaching a relatively novice singer, am interested in opera as well. thanks, good luck to all the WAAPA auditionees in the up coming weeks!