Katie Rutledge
Katie graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University in 1999 and continued her studies with Enid Hartel in London. In 2000 Katie was commissioned to sing with the "St Stephens Scholar" in Brisbane where she did a number of recordings for 4MBS and ABC Classic FM. In 2002 Katie joined Opera Queensland and subsequently appeared in the productions of Andrea Chenier, A Masked Ball, The Marriage of Figaro, Romeo & Juliet, Madame Butterfly, Turandot, Aida, Tosca and Carmen. During 2012, Katie was appointed the Griffith University’s Choral Lecturer at Nathan Campus for the Education Department. Katie was selected for Opera Queensland's chamber production of St Matthew’s Passion and began touring with vocal duo Essence Ensemble. Katie is a co-founder and singer in the Brisbane-based classical voice ensemble Serendipity, and for the past 15 years Katie has been teaching and conducting choirs and has won two Queensland State Choral Fanfares with her choirs. Over the past five years she has had extensive experience in adjudicating the Northern Rivers Music and Schools Eisteddfods and she continues to enjoy coordinating a boutique music studio and performing and teaching throughout Australia. Katie is proud to have been a Northern Rivers resident with her husband and two sons for the past six years.
Beth McBride
Beth is an experienced lyric soprano, songwriter, speech pathologist and a mother of two young boys. Beth graduated from The Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University in 2003, with a Master of Music, a Graduate Diploma in Opera Performance, and travelling scholarships from Dante Alighieri Society (Florence) and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London). She then completed three years in Opera Queensland's Young Artist Program, and over the past ten years she has worked extensively for Opera Queensland performing roles and covers, and delivering chamber operas in schools and both the Moving Opera and Vocal Threads educational workshops in schools. Operatic performances have included Pamina in The Magic Flute, Second Spirit in The Magic Flute, Gianetta in The Elixir of Love, and Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, as well as countless performances in the famed Opera Queensland Chorus. Oratorio engagements have included Bach’s Magnificat; Haydn’s Messe Harmonie, Mozart’s Missa in C, Purcell’s Come Ye Sons of Art; Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, Vaughan Williams’ Donna Nobis Pacem, and Jenkins’ The Armed Man. In 2012, Beth made her debut with the Opera Australia chorus in The Magic Flute, and performed regularly with chamber ensembles En Harmonie and Eclectic Light Orchestra Brisbane. In 2013 she was selected for Opera Queensland’s chamber production of St Matthew’s Passion, and toured with vocal duo Essence Ensemble. Beth is a co-founder and singer in the Brisbane-based classical voice ensemble Serendipity, and follows her passion for songwriting and guitar playing. Her album Lullaby Sweet Baby is a collection of classical cradlesongs for voice and piano, which represents her love of children and children's musical development.
Guest Instrumentalists...
LEO MCFADDEN (classical guitar)
Leo completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the Queensland Conservatorium, before completing a Masters degree with Academic Honours at Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in 2007. Subsequently, Leo worked as a freelance musician and teacher in New York while studying theory, counterpoint and harmony with Donna Doyle (a pupil of the famous French teacher, Nadia Boulanger). Leo has performed extensively in major concerts in Australia and abroad, has enjoyed national radio airplay on the ABC, and has also directed numerous ensembles including the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra. He has played for the ABC television show “The Hollowmen”, performed for the Out of the Box festival in The Flying Orchestra show , and plays in a duo with Queensland Orchestra Concertmaster, Warwick Adeney. Leo has been the recipient of major grants and awards including the City of Brisbane, Lord Mayor’s Young Artist Fellowship and The Ian Potter Cultural Trust.
DAVE SPICER (piano)
Dave is a highly sought after musician with numerous recordings, television, radio and festival appearances to credit. Dave holds numerous tertiary accreditations including a masters degree in contemporary performance and a Masters in Vocal Performance. As a performer Dave has played with many of Australia's leading artists and has been flown around the country to perform for many corporate companies, individuals (such as the Prime Minister of Australia and for Queen Elizabeth II during her 2011 tour of Australia) and of course numerous Australian and international jazz and music festivals. David has recently composed and recorded a sound track for a documentary directed by internationally renowned chef Mirko Grillini. Dave currently holds a position educating within Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium of Music. David is also the director of the School of Music Online Pty Ltd and he has been educating students, teachers and professional musicians since 2000.
NATASHA KOCH (piano)
DANIEL SALECICH (violin)
Leo completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the Queensland Conservatorium, before completing a Masters degree with Academic Honours at Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in 2007. Subsequently, Leo worked as a freelance musician and teacher in New York while studying theory, counterpoint and harmony with Donna Doyle (a pupil of the famous French teacher, Nadia Boulanger). Leo has performed extensively in major concerts in Australia and abroad, has enjoyed national radio airplay on the ABC, and has also directed numerous ensembles including the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra. He has played for the ABC television show “The Hollowmen”, performed for the Out of the Box festival in The Flying Orchestra show , and plays in a duo with Queensland Orchestra Concertmaster, Warwick Adeney. Leo has been the recipient of major grants and awards including the City of Brisbane, Lord Mayor’s Young Artist Fellowship and The Ian Potter Cultural Trust.
DAVE SPICER (piano)
Dave is a highly sought after musician with numerous recordings, television, radio and festival appearances to credit. Dave holds numerous tertiary accreditations including a masters degree in contemporary performance and a Masters in Vocal Performance. As a performer Dave has played with many of Australia's leading artists and has been flown around the country to perform for many corporate companies, individuals (such as the Prime Minister of Australia and for Queen Elizabeth II during her 2011 tour of Australia) and of course numerous Australian and international jazz and music festivals. David has recently composed and recorded a sound track for a documentary directed by internationally renowned chef Mirko Grillini. Dave currently holds a position educating within Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium of Music. David is also the director of the School of Music Online Pty Ltd and he has been educating students, teachers and professional musicians since 2000.
NATASHA KOCH (piano)
DANIEL SALECICH (violin)
