Vivien Hamilton - soprano
Scottish-born Vivien Hamilton is one of Australia's most versatile sopranos with a career portfolio which includes
performances on concert, stage, radio and recording of both solo and ensemble music from medieval times through to the 21st century.
Trained as young singer by Australian soprano Molly McGurk at the University of Western Australia,
where she was a student and Research Assistant in French Baroque music to Professor David Tunley,
Vivien studied Baroque singing style with guest artist Tenor Nigel Rogers,
gained valuable experience working on French Baroque projects with baroque dance expert Dr Margaret Mullins and
performed Renaissance music with viola da gamba player Oliver Brookes of the London Consort of Music.
London
Vivien continued her vocal studies in London on advanced technique and contemporary music with English Soprano Jane Manning
and David Mason. Whilst working with English Baroque Opera, the BBC Singers, Kent Opera, Mecklenburg Festival Opera,
London Savoyards and New Sadlers Wells Opera Vivien performed, toured and participated in the ground breaking recording
with The Hilliard Ensemble Arvo Pärt, Passio for the ECM label.
Melbourne
Vivien returned to Australia to undertake post-graduate study at The University of Melbourne with Margaret Haggart (Opera Australia)
and concurrently worked intensely on Baroque Gesture with specialist Dean Barnett from Flinders University, Adelaide.
Now resident in Melbourne, Vivien has performed in numerous concert series and major music festivals throughout Australia.
She has delighted audiences with her performances of works such as Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda (Monteverdi),
Facade (Walton), Voice, Jam and VideoTape (Kosky), No Hope No Reason (Newnham/Walton), Les Leçons de Ténèbres (Couperin),
St John Passion (JS Bach) etc and on the commercial stage with Chamber Made Opera (The Burrow-Smetanin)
and Melbourne Theatre Company (A little Night Music-Sondheim). She can regularly be heard in recital with pianist Len Vorster
and has performed with leading lights in the Australian early music scene - Australian Brandenburg Orchestra,
blue medusa productions, Chacona, Collegium Symphonic Chorus, Consort Eclectus, Convivio, e21, Elysium Ensemble,
Ensemble Gombert, Harpsichordist Linda Kent, La Compania, Ludovico's Band, Musica da Camera, Rosa Seria,
Rosemary Hodgson (Lute and Theorbo) Trio Jacquin, Samantha Cohen (Theorbo) and The Orpheus Ensemble.
Recording
Vivien's recordings include Olimpia: Cantatas of Alessandro Scarlatti (ABC Classics), Tyrannick Love;
Choice Songs and Ayres from the Restoration Stage (MOVE Records), the world premiere recording
The Music of Henry Handel Richardson (PLC) and most recently Consort Eclectus: music for viols and voice.
Vivien can frequently be heard on 3MBS FM and ABC Classic FM.
Academic
Vivien is equally committed to teaching as to performing.
She has been Lecturer in Voice at Monash University (where she conducted the Swing Choir and the Monash Women's Choir)
and has taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels for the Victorian College for the Arts.
Furthermore Vivien is regularly asked to host masterclasses throughout Australia.
Currently Vivien is on staff The University of Melbourne where, alongside other duties,
where she is involved in teaching for the vocal performance stream and vocal pedagogy for the instrumental music education course.
Vivien works for the Early Music Studio at The University of Melbourne and is the director of the Early Voices vocal ensemble
- a group of between 16 and 20 auditioned students from the Bachelor of Music performance stream.
