Sharon Zhai is a China born Australian soprano, she has achieved two degrees in opera performance at the conservatory of Beijing in China and the Sydney conservatory of Music in Australia where she also obtained a master’s degree. She came to Australia in 2003 and during her study in Sydney, she proudly obtained the distinguished talent visa and later on in 2009, she became Australian Citizen.
In the course of her studies in Sydney and Beijing she has interpreted different roles included The Queen of the night in Die Zauberflote by Mozart, Madame Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor, Lizzie in Coffee cantata by Bach, Celia in La Fedelta' premiata by Haydn, Dido in Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell.
She went to Milan Italy in 2009 and there she continued her study privately under the guidance of the soprano Tiziana Fabbricini. During her years in Milan Sharon has exhibited in numerous operas and concerts throughout Europe, America and Asia. Debuted opera roles from the most recent, include: Zerlina in Don Giovanni with the Piccolo Festival FVG at Villa Manin di Passariano at Codroipo and Castello di San Giusto in Trieste; Anna in Nabucco at the theaters of the Opera Circuit Lombardo (AS.LI.Co.) with performances in Cremona, Brescia, Como and Pavia; Gilda in Rigoletto at the Teatro Politeama in Saluzzo; Desdemona in the American opera Jago of Carlo Pedini, International Opera Theater of Philadelphia (PA, USA); Liu in Turandot at the Teatro San Giovanni Bosco di Bergamo; The Lover in Il Tabarro from the Trittico; Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi for the ''Macau International Music Festival'' at the auditorium of Macao Cultural Center Grand.
She was the winner in some internation vocal competitions in Italy including O.M.E.G.A. in Florence(2013); "Umberto Giordano" in Lucera, Foggia (2013); "Magda Olivero" in Saluzzo, Cuneo(2012); "Franca Mattiucci" in Canelli, Asti (2012); She also won the International Lieder ''Mietta Song Recital Award'' in Melbourne, Australia(2004).
Sharon has participated in numerous concerts in Italy and abroad including, most recent:
Tafelmusik with the Associazion Mozart Italy in Salzburg and a collaboration concert with Marcello Abbado in the Villa Reale in Milan; Puccini concert at the Teatro San Giovanni Bosco di Bergamo; Tafelmusik in collaboration with the Mozart Association Italy, Trieste headquarters; concert in Assisi for the celebration of the day "We are in the final Capital - Perugia Assisi with the European Capital of Culture 2019" in collaboration with the Mozart Association of Perugia and with the renowned pianist Leone Magiera; Memorial "Maria Callas" with 4 concerts at the Teatro Villoresi Monza, the Ancona Muse Theater, Teatro Comunale in Latina and the Teatro Comunale di Fontanellato (Parma); TafelRunde in Saxony, in collaboration with Mozart Association Germany; New Year Concert at the Teatro Dante of Campi Bisenzio (FI) with Orchestra Nuova Europa; "Waiting for Traviata": execution of Verdi arias with the renowned pianist Roberto Prosseda and participation of the robot Teo-Tronico, at Palazzina Liberty, Milan; concert season in different locations of the Mozart Association Italy and in collaboration with the Museum of Verdi in Busseto. The concerts were held with several Italian and international artists including, among others, the master Leone Magiera and Corrado Huzza; the Regina coeli KV127 by Mozart accompanied by the orchestra of Macau and from the ARS NOVA Vocal Ensemble Hungarian at the auditorium of Macao Cultural Center Grand.
Sharon has worked with internation artists, including Leone Magiera, Bonoldo Giaiodi, Umberto Finazzi, Leila Cuberli, Marget Genoese Baker, Stephen Delaney, David Wakeham, Nico and Carol Castel, Joan Dornemann, Dennis Neil, Ned Canty, Karen Shepherd. ABC Classic FM and 3MBS of Australia have transmitted her performances.
Marie Searles completed a Bachelor of Music at the Canberra School of Music in 2002 where she studied piano with Susanne Powell. During her degree Marie was twice awarded the Margaret Smiles Accompaniment Prize for the best vocal and instrumental accompanist. In 2002, Marie was selected to participate in various musical events including National Music Camp and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. From these experiences she has been privileged to work with distinguished musicians including Cho-Liang Lin and Helena Rathbone and to participate in masterclasses with Piers Lane, James Buswell and Roger Benedict.
Marie is currently completing a Masters in accompaniment at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studies with the distinguished teacher David Miller. As part of her postgraduate studies, Marie has performed with musicians of excellence including Caroline Henbest, Ben Jacks and Michael Halliwell. In 2004 Marie played with the Sydney Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra conducted by Brett Dean, and has recently returned from a chamber music tour of southern New South Wales.
