James penn

James Penn is an up-and-coming conductor, who began his musical training as a choirboy at All Saints church, St Kilda east. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Victorian College of the Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Music from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and is currently completing his Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education at Australian Catholic University.

 

James is passionate about the inherent confrontation at the heart of all great opera. Having toured internationally, singing in the great European cathedrals and concert halls, he brings this experience to his work, focusing on bringing a European refinement to the Australian opera scene.

 

His roles include Frederic (Pirates of Penzance) Tamino (The Magic Flute), Ralph Rackstraw (HMS Pinafore), Lucentio (The Taming of the shrew), Camille de Rossillon (The Merry Widow) Turiddu (Cavalleria Rusticana). He also created the roles of the Huntsman and the Soldier in Gordon Kerry's Snow White and other Grimm Tales. His oratorio roles include Obadiah (Elijah), Lobgesang (Mendelssohn), Olivet to Calvary (Maunder), the Crucifixion (Stainer) and Handels' Messiah.

 

James has conducted both choral and church music for over ten years. He brings that skill, which, when combined with his zest for opera, creates a new perspective aimed at bridging the gap between emerging and established singers.