Opera student Amanda Hargreaves on performing with Victorian Opera and falling in love with classical music
As a child, Amanda Hargreaves had big dreams. She wanted to become a pop star, then an actor, and later longed to grace the stage in musicals.
Fast forward twenty years, and the current Master of Music (Opera Performance) student has experienced her debut with Victorian Opera in 'The Grumpiest Boy in the World' at Arts Centre Melbourne.
A journey to the opera stage
When Amanda finished high school, she knew one thing – singing was her calling.
Exploring options in both Music Theatre and Classical Voice, Amanda eventually found her path in the Bachelor of Music (Voice) program at the Conservatorium.
From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back.
"I completely fell in love with the world of classical music," she says.
Amanda says her undergraduate studies were a 'portal' to a new world. She learnt the intricacies of singing recitative, the art of ornamentation, and explored various styles like baroque, classical, bel canto, and romantic. Through this process, she discovered opera:
"It’s a very unique and exciting world to be a part of," she says.
Performing with Victorian Opera
Recently, Amanda had the opportunity as part of her MMus (Opera Performance) to perform in 'The Grumpiest Boy in the World' with Victorian Opera at Arts Centre Melbourne.
She portrayed the character of 'Squirrel Monkey', an imaginary creature created by Zachary, a young boy on a journey of self-discovery.
Amanda felt well supported during the experience.
"Richard Mills [Artistic Director of Victorian Opera] welcomed us all into the Victorian Opera family. He told us it didn't matter how big or small our roles were […] the team was there to support every artist.
"They ensured everyone felt supported, which is crucial for us at this point in our development.”
The opportunity to perform in the context of the State Company proved transformative, boosting her confidence and allowing her to conquer her on-stage nerves.
She recalls one of the live-streamed shows where the composer, Joseph Twist, was in the audience.
"It threw me," she confesses. "I spent the entire performance overanalysing every movement, facial expression, and sound I made."
As a self-described perfectionist, Amanda acknowledges the importance of embracing these challenges as opportunities to better refine her craft.
"Now I know what happens when I'm under pressure and can learn to manage my nerves better," she says.
The musical journey continues
With graduation around the corner, Amanda is excited about the next chapter in her musical journey.
Armed with her newfound skills and an ever-developing passion for opera, she has her sights set on traveling overseas to immerse herself in the rich culture of Europe.
"I have never been to Europe, which is the global centre of classical music,” she says.
There’s no rigid pathway I feel I need to follow, so we’ll see what happens.”
Master of Music (Opera Performance) students from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music joined 'The Grumpiest Boy in the World' cast as part of a work-integrated learning experience. Find out more about studying Music Performance at Fine Arts and Music.