Americana with Jessica Harper

Enjoy a two hour performance of:

‘Old American Songs’ Set I and II by A. Copland.

Copland was an American composer affectionately given the label of ‘the grandfather of American Music’. He is best known for his ability to achieve a balance between the modern musical ideas of the time and American folk tunes. Both sets of Old American song are arrangements of American folk tunes and all have a light-hearted and cheeky disposition as they show us a little piece of Americana.

Performed by:

Jessica Harper: Soprano

Jessica Harper is a freelance soprano based in Sydney. In 2015, Jess is performing in a number of concerts in regional NSW and SA. She was broadcast on the radio as a Semi Finalist for the 2MBS Fine Music FM Young Virtuosi Award. She is delighted to be undertaking her second year as a Young Artist with Pacific Opera. In 2014, Jess appeared as Denise in Sydney Independent Opera’s production of Offenbach’s Love by Lanternlight, and as the ‘Icecream Seller’ in Opera Prometheus’ production of Brundibar. The highlight of 2014 was being a Young Artist with Pacific Opera, and playing Tessa in their production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Godoliers: Dream Getaway. Jess was also a Semi-Finalist for the IFAC Australian Singing Competition, winning the Instituto Italiano Di Cultura Award. Jess holds a First Class Honours degree in Classical Singing from the Australian National University.

Blake Parham: Tenor

Blake Parham has performed and studied in Poland, Germany, France, Great Britain and Australia. He is currently completing his PhD at the Sydney Conservatorium and holds a masters degree and a Bachelor of Music from the Elder Conservatorium. Recently Blake was awarded a grant by SA Youth Arts to study with Peter Coleman Wright. Blake was the 2011 recipient of the George Boland Vocal Scholarship, took part in the 2014 Pacific Opera Young Artist Program and was the vocal winner of the 2014 5MBs Young Virtusi Award. Blake made his professional debut as ‘Toby’ in a workshop of Palmer’s Cloudstreet and in the chorus of Moby Dick (SA State Opera). He has also appeared in concert with Opera by Candlelight (Canberra), the Kapelle Singers, Adelaide Philharmonia, the University of St Andrew, Dundee Cathedral, Polish Musicians Association, and the Avondale Conservatorium.