James Olds (bass-baritone)
James Olds | |
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![]() James Olds Headshot | |
Born |
Sydney, Australia | February 20, 1986
Years active | 2004–present |
Website |
jamesolds |
James Andrew Olds (born 20 February 1986) is an Australian bass-baritone. He holds a Masters of Music in Performance from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.
In 2016, James made his debut as a Principal Artist with Opera Australia performing the role of The Officer in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and in 2018 will be performing the role of Sergeant in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour — La bohème.
James has also been an active member of the Opera Australia Chorus since 2009. He was the recipient of both the Sanderson Award and the Hawaiian Performing Arts Festival Prize at the 2016 Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award Final and semi-finalist in this year's Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship (previously Sun Aria).
In 2015, James performed the role of Count Almaviva in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro for Rockdale Opera and was the Winner of the 34th National Liederfest, which secured him a scholarship at the Franz Schubert-Institut in Austria where he worked with Elly Ameling, Helmut Deutsch, Andreas Schmidt, Robert Holl and Rudolf Jansen.
In 2013, James accepted a scholarship into the Artist Masters Programme at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he studied under Welsh Soprano Marilyn Rees. That same year, James toured the UK and France with Diva Opera again performing the role of The Officer in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and was a finalist in the Australian Music Foundation Awards at Wigmore Hall.
While in London, James performed the role of Betto in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi for St. Paul’s Opera and the roles of Rocco (Fidelio), Leporello (Don Giovanni), and Dr. Dulcamara (L'elisir d'amore) for Guildhall Postgraduate Opera at the Milton Court Theatre.[1]
Biography
Bass-Baritone James Olds holds a Masters of Music in Performance from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.
In 2016, James made his debut as a Principal Artist with Opera Australia performing the role of The Officer in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and in 2018 will be performing the role of Sergeant in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour — La bohème.
James has also been an active member of the Opera Australia Chorus since 2009. He was the recipient of both the Sanderson Award and the Hawaiian Performing Arts Festival Prize at the 2016 Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award Final and semi-finalist in this year's Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship (previously Sun Aria).
In 2015, James performed the role of Count Almaviva in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro for Rockdale Opera and was the Winner of the 34th National Liederfest, which secured him a scholarship at the Franz Schubert-Institut in Austria where he worked with Elly Ameling, Helmut Deutsch, Andreas Schmidt, Robert Holl and Rudolf Jansen.
In 2013, James accepted a scholarship into the Artist Masters Programme at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he studied under Welsh Soprano Marilyn Rees. That same year, James toured the UK and France with Diva Opera again performing the role of The Officer in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and was a finalist in the Australian Music Foundation Awards at Wigmore Hall.
While in London, James performed the role of Betto in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi for St. Paul’s Opera and the roles of Rocco (Fidelio), Leporello (Don Giovanni), and Dr. Dulcamara (L'elisir d'amore) for Guildhall Postgraduate Opera at the Milton Court Theatre.
Opera Australia
- Fidelio – Chorus – 2009
- The Pirates of Penzance – Samuel (Cover) / Chorus – 2010
- Der Rosenkavalier – Chorus – 2010
- La Bohème – Chorus – 2011
- Macbeth – Chorus – 2011
- The Mikado – Chorus – 2011
- Lakmé – Chorus – 2011
- The Merry Widow – Chorus – 2011
- La traviata – Chorus – 2012
- The Barber of Seville – Officer – 2016
- Carmen – Chorus – 2016
- Simon Boccanegra – Chorus – 2016
- La bohème – Chorus – 2016
- Carmen – Chorus – 2016
- Pagliacci – Chorus – 2017
- Cavalleria Rusticana – Chorus – 2017
- King Roger – Chorus – 2017
- Verdi Requiem – Chorus – 2017
- Parsifal – Chorus – 2017
- Carmen – Chorus – 2018
- La bohème – Sergeant – 2018
Awards, achievements and roles
Institution/Company | Award/Achievement/Role | Year |
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Sydney Conservatorium of Music | Mary Patricia Bell Scholarship | 2004 |
Opera Australia | Chorus (9 operas) | 2009–2012 |
Pacific Opera | Young Artist Programme | 2010 |
Sydney University | Judge Turpin, Sweeney Todd | 2010 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama | Artist Masters Programme | 2013 |
Diva Opera | Un Ufficiale, The Barber of Seville | 2013 |
London Contemporary Opera | Chorus, The Schmürz | 2013 |
Australian Music Foundation Awards | Finalist | 2013 |
St. Paul's Opera | Betto, Gianni Schicchi | 2013 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama | Drum Maker (Cover), The Adventures of Pinocchio – Dove | 2013 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama | Chorus, The Adventures of Pinocchio – Dove | 2013 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama | Rocco, Fidelio (Scenes) | 2014 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama | Leporello, Don Giovanni (Scenes) | 2014 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama | Dr. Dulcamara, L'elisir d'amore (Scenes) | 2014 |
34th National Liederfest (Australia) | Winner | 2015 |
Rockdale Opera Company | Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro | 2015 |
Open Lieder Prize (Wollongong Eisteddfod) | Winner | 2015 |
Open Aria Prize (Wollongong Eisteddfod) | Finalist | 2016 |
Bel Canto Award (Bel Canto Awards) | Finalist | 2016 |
Sanderson Award (Bel Canto Awards) | Finalist | 2016 |
Hawaii Performing Arts Awards (Bel Canto Awards) | Finalist | 2016 |
Opera Scholarship (Sun Aria) | Semi Finalist | 2015 |
Opera Australia | Officer, The Barber of Seville | 2016 |
Opera Australia | Sergeant, La bohème | 2018 |
References
- ↑ Olds, James. "Opera Australia Artists". Opera Australia Official Website. Opera Australia. Retrieved 30 April 2018.