Mezzo soprano Fiona Janes began her career in the Artistic and Marketing Departments of Opera Australia before making her operatic debut in 1988. She lived in London for fifteen years whilst performing before returning to Australia in 2005. She still performs and spends much of her time nurturing the next generation of singers through her work with the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation. She combines her lifetime of experience on the operatic stage and in Arts administration to perpetuating our operatic culture.

 

Fiona Janes CV

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OPERA SINGER

Fiona Janes is an Australian mezzo-soprano who made her debut in 1988 with Opera Australia, becoming one of the company's youngest full-time Principal singers. For the past 26 years she has been performing for all the major opera companies and symphony orchestra's in Australia and throughout the UK and Europe. See Fiona's full biography and repertoire on the the Biography and Repertoire pages.

 

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & PROJECT MANAGER
Fiona conceptualises and project manages concerts and large scale events to help raise funds for the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation.

Recent events have included;

•  Concert performance of Handel's Rodelinda conducted by Richard Bonynge at the City Recital Hall Angel Place Sydney in 2012.

•  Concert performance of Rodelinda in 2014 in Melbourne at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre on 3 October, 2014.

•  Gala Joan Sutherland Bel Canto Dinner for 800 guests in 2013, 2014, 2015

•  Richard Bonynge's 80th Birthday Concert in 2010 featuring 21 artists. Presented at the City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney.

•  Project manager for the Bel Canto Award since 2011 and the Elizabeth Connell Prize since 2014.

•  Numerous smaller concerts, masterclasses, dinners, lunches.

 

GENERAL MANAGER

Fiona runs the everyday operations of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation & Elizabeth Connell Prize.

 

SINGING COMPETITION PRODUCER

• In 2011 Fiona created the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award for the JS & RB Foundation.

• Through her own vast experience of singing competitions, Fiona has endeavoured to create a competition which is a friendly, nurturing environment ensuring the singer's experience is productive and educational.

• She ensures judging panels are experienced and fair and strives to give all entrants encouragement and access to advice and mentoring from highly experienced professionals.

• Through sponsorship and corporate assistance, Fiona has built the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award in 2014 to offer prizes valued at over $72,000 including places and performance experience at the Georg Solti Accademia in Tuscany, Verbier Festival in Switzerland, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival and Tait Memorial Trust in London.

• In 2014 she staged the inaugural Elizabeth Connell Prize for aspiring dramatic sopranos of the world.

 

ADVISOR, JUDGE, TEACHER & MENTOR

• Masterclasses and opera workshops for organisations like Pacific Opera, Queensland Opera, Harbour City Opera and privately.

• Judged - JS & RB Bel Canto Award, Australian Singing Competition, Sydney Eisteddfod, Herald Sun Aria Competition & more.

• She teachers only a few singers at a time and is happy to help mentor singers or give advice.

 

BOARD MEMBER, TRUSTEE & PATRON

• Fiona is a founding member of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation Board.

• In 2012 the late internationally acclaimed soprano, Elizabeth Connell, asked her to be trustee of the inaugural Elizabeth Connell Scholarship and to establish and run the Elizabeth Connell Prize for aspiring dramatic sopranos under the banner of the JS & RB Foundation.

• Fiona is on the Council of Patrons for Pacific Opera based in Sydney, Australia.

 

TIMELINE

1982 - Winner of the Joan Sutherland Society of Sydney Encouragement Award

1983 - Winner Joan Sutherland Society of Sydney Vocal Scholarship

1986 - Winner of the Marianne Mathy Scholarship

1988 - Australian operatic debut for Opera Australia

1988 - Winner of the Bull Fellowship

1989 - Winner Vienna State Opera Award

1990 - Winner of the Remy Martin Scholarship

1991 - UK operatic debut

2010 - Appointed Artistic Co-ordinator of the Joan Sutherland Society of Sydney

2011 - Creator of the inaugural Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award for young singers

2012 - Appointed General Manager of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

2012 - Appointed to the Board of Directors of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

2013 - Appointed Artistic Director of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

2013 - Appointed Trustee for the Elizabeth Connell Scholarship

2014 - Creator of the inaugural Elizabeth Connell Prize for aspiring dramatic sopranos of the world