Jessica Dean and Anthony Hunt

We’ve managed to upload a few more photos from recent productions.  Click “photos” above!

Well, it’s hard to believe that it’s June already, but here it is.  In fact, it’s nearly July!   In a weeks time, we will be heading to Italy for two weeks, on an Italian course in Liguria, before heading home, for a break, AND to work with State Opera of SA on The Marriage of Figaro.

The last term at the Academy has been very busy, as always.  Once the exciting and brilliant La Calisto was out of the way (in which Jess had the title role - pictured), there was a substantial batch of opera scenes (tableaux) that took up most of the rest of the term.

Next week, our last week of term, Jessica is performing in a concert of Purcell’s King Arthur, conducted by early-music specialist Laurence Cummings, and Anthony is performing a concert of Schumann songs (both Robert and Clara) on early 19th Century pianos in the Academy’s York Gate Museum.

We are both very excited about next year at the Academy, and the new challeneges and opportunities it will present.  First up will be everyones favourite fairytale opera, Hansel and Gretel.

The holidays will be here very soon, and the new academic year is creeping up not far behind.  Therefore we are in full swing in terms of fundraising and grant applications for our second year.

Anthony recently had some success in the Musicians Benevolent Fund round of grant competitions, winning a 3000 pound Repetiteur’s award, which will go towards living expenses.

We are always very keen for people to be able to support us as we study overseas, as the costs are almost unbelievably enormous - we are still needing to find quite a substantial amount to help with living, and particularly the remainder of Jessica’s course fees for next year.

If you are interested in supporting us in any way for our final year, or know of people who may wish to sponsor or become patrons of our development, then we can highly recommend that you investigate the Australia Cultural Fund, which we have used successfully since last year.

The Australia Cultural Fund now has a website, on which our project is listed, with details for making a tax-deductible donation online.  The Australia Cultural Fund, run by the Australia Business Arts Foundation, has been an extremely valuable tool in helping us in our time in London, with a combination of small and large donations making a vital difference, helping us directly.  Click on the link below.

The Australia Cultural Fund at ABAF