Mary-Jean O'Doherty
Coloratura Soprano
Biography
Mary-Jean Anais O'Doherty was born in Houston, Texas and raised in North Carolina, and moved to Australia in 2005 at the age of 23. She holds a Bachelors of Music in both Voice and Flute Performance from East Carolina University where she performed in the roles of "Damon" in Acis and Galatea (2004), "Donna Anna" in Don Giovanni (2004) and Emmie in Albert Herring (2003). Mary-Jean was in the Chorus of Mabel's sisters in the Opera Australia Production of Pirates of Penzance (2006-2007) and also performed in the Female Ensemble of Dead Man Walking in Sydney in 2007.
She is the first recipient of the Australian International Opera Award (2008) which is a full scholarship to study for 10 months at the acclaimed Cardiff International Academy of Voice, in Wales, directed by the Internationally renowned tenor Dennis O'Neill.
Mary-Jean was one of 20 finalists (out of 2000) in ABC/Opera Australia Television show "Operatunity Oz" (2006).
She was a Finalist (one of five) in the Marianne Mathy Award of the of the Australian Singing Competition (2007) winning prizes including the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Award, and Symphony Australia Young Vocalist Award.
In addition, she has placed and medalled in several events of the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge 2007 including: First Place in the "English Opera and Song" Award, Second Place in "Russian Art Songs" and Third in the "Gilbert and Sullivan Awards." Mary-Jean was also a Quarter-Finalist in the "Operatic Aria" award. Mary-Jean has 10 years of dance training, including classical ballet, is an accomplished flute player, is fluent in French, and has advanced study in German and Italian.