Emma Farquharson

Emma Farquharson holds two degrees with Distinction in Music: a BA (Second Major in Drama), and BA Honours. Both were completed at Rhodes University under the bel canto training of Miss Jo-Nette Le Kay. Reaching Fulbright semi-finals, she will pursue a Masters of Education, specialising in the teaching of WAM Female Composers at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 2020/21.

Throughout her university career, Emma was the recipient of nine scholarships and bursaries, most notably from SAMRO and the Golden Key International Honours Society.

She staged two succesful shows at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival whilst a student: Opera Found (2017 – Standard Bank Encore Ovation Award) and A Feather on the Breath of God (2018 – Arena Production). She and her pianist, Garreth Robertson, performed Opera Found in Port Alfred. Emma then toured the show in KwaZulu-Natal in early 2018. A Feather… is a concert she considers to be the most important of her young career, as it showcased the works of ten female Western Art Music composers, spanning 700 years. She was honoured to work with American-born cellist, Caleb Vaughn-Jones, and local pianist Nina van Schoor.

Emma returned to KZN after graduation and worked with musicians like Lara Kirsten, Ilse Myburgh, David Orr, Christopher Duigan, James Grace & the Pietermaritzburg Caledonian Pipe Band. Here, she furthered her vocal development with retired opera singer, Margaret Clay-Bowen, training as a Light moving into Dramatic Coloratura Soprano. Her most notable performance was her booking by PAMS as Soprano for Handel’s Messiah in November, where she met with wide acclaim.

Emma currently flits between the southern suburbs of Cape Town and KZN, and has taken lessons with Juan Burgers. She works as both a freelance Opera & classical performer, and runs a private vocal coaching studio. She is currently employed as ensemble voice coach at Norman Henshilwood High School, music teacher at the Constantia Pre-School, and PA & Media Liaison to Biblioteek Productions Pty Ltd.

Links 

Website: songsoftheforestweaver.com