Emily Burke

Emily grew up in Tasmania. She is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and has studied language and voice at the Milan Conservatory. In 2006, she was a runner-up in the ABC TV series Operatunity Oz which led to her singing the role of Gilda in a special performance of Rigoletto (for Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House). She currently studies voice with Yvonne Kenny and Rosamund Illing.

On the concert platform, Emily has appeared with the Melbourne Symphony, Adelaide Art Orchestra, Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and Royal Melbourne Philharmonic. Other engagements include appearing in The Pavarotti Story (for Melbourne City Opera), performing at Opera Australia’s 50th Birthday Celebrations (at Cruden Farm) and at the National Gallery of Australia’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Her recordings include the Operatunity Oz CD (ABC Classics) and singing on Roy Best’s album Heart’s Delight (with The Queensland Orchestra).

As a member of Opera Queensland’s Young Artist Program in 2008 and 2009, Emily understudied the roles of First Lady and First Wise Woman in The Magic Flute and Marzelline in Fidelio. She also appeared in the chorus of The Magic Flute, La traviata and Fidelio and performed at Sunset Opera. Most recently, she performed the role of Dame Nellie Melba in the company’s production of Waltzing Our Matilda (for the two-performance Brisbane season and the 12-centre tour of regional Queensland). Upcoming engagements include understudying the role of Gilda in the company’s production of Rigoletto.

In 2007, Emily was invited to compete in the Stanislaw Moniuszko Vocal Competition in Warsaw, Poland. In 2008, she was named an Australia Day Ambassador. At the end of this year, she will return to Italy to perform (as the winner of the Puccini Foundation Award) before travelling to the USA to audition for San Francisco Opera’s prestigious Merola Opera Program.

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