Ten years ago Kathryn O’Halloran was a 17-year-old schoolgirl from Tinbeerwah singing with the Noosa Chorale at its maiden Christmas Wassail in 2007.
This month Brisbane City Opera star Kathryn returns to the choir as featured soloist in this year’s 10th anniversary Wassail, singing excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and leading revellers in traditional Christmas carols.
This is her second appearance with the choir this year. Noosa audiences will recall her thrilling performance in the Chorale’s Viennese Masters concerts in May.
Kathryn is excited at singing Messiah.
“It’s a privilege to sing such beautiful works and to be asked back by a conductor like Adrian King is a great honour for a singer.”
The boy in the photograph is her brother Mitchell who, earlier in 2007 had been a soloist in the Chorale’s October production of Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
“Mitchell was 13 and, after Elijah, he was invited to sing in the Wassail. I was studying singing at the time and I was asked to join him.
“I have such beautiful memories of those concerts. It’s amazing to think it was 10 years ago.”
Since then music and opera have dominated Kathryn’s life. She has worked with stellar movie director Bruce Beresford in the Con’s production of the comic opera Albert Herring, playing schoolteacher, Miss Wordsworth.
As well as Albert Herring, she has sung the role of Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and performed as an opera ensemble member in Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and Michael Gow’s production of Humperdinck’s
Hansel and Gretel.
Her most recent operatic role took place a month ago when she appeared as Bastienne in Brisbane City Opera’s production of Mozart’s Bastien and Bastienne.
This year the theme for the Wassail is Peace on Earth and the J will be transformed into a wonderland decorated with doves and sparkling festive decor.
Revellers will join Kathryn and the Chorale in a Christmas carol sing-a-long while sitting at tables, enjoying drinks, cake, mince pies and cheese platters.
Noosa Chorale Christmas Cheer Wassail will be on 15-16 December at The J Noosa. Tickets $39, table group of 8 $35. Bookings at www.thej.com.au
