The Artists

Anita Parakh-Morgan

Returning recently from professional development in Germany, Anita Parakh-Morgan continues to establish herself as a premier classical and opera singer. Anita covered the role of Giovanna in Verdi's Rigoletto for Opera Queensland's 2009 season and will be returning to Europe in 2012 to audition for a range of companies and roles. Her first Pops Orchestra Concert was in 1997 in All Creatures Great and Small and Anita has had extensive concert and opera performance experience, as well as operetta.

Anita Parakh-Morgan made her professional chorus and solo debut with Opera Queensland, and also performed internationally with The Chicago Philharmonia Orchestra in 2002. Productions include Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci, Carmen, Verdi’s Requiem, The Damnation of Faust, The Masked Ball, Romeo and Juliet and Turandot. Recent role-studies include the title role of Aida, during the Opera Queensland season.

Major awards include a 1998/1999 Queen’s Trust Award for Opera Studies in England.; Arts Queensland Individual Professional Development Bursaries and various scholarships and competitions. Operatic roles include appearances in the title roles of Bellini’s Norma and Janacek’s Jenufa, Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Violetta (La Traviata), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana) and Miss Jessel (Turn of the Screw).

Other major concert appearances as a soprano soloist have been with the Queensland Pops Orchestra, Opera Queensland and with the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, supporting Julie Anthony, at the QPAC Concert Hall. Anita enjoys Oratorio, and has sung as soprano soloist in many and varied oratorios and masses, including Brahms' German Requiem, Faure Requiem, and the Mozart Requiem. She has performed in numerous concerts and recitals as a soloist, and has also coordinated and produced performances for Radio 4MBS Classic FM.

As Artistic Director and Founder of Diva Productions Australia, Anita manages professional events of all types which incorporate music performance and production, including corporate events. Anita thrives on a demanding and challenging musical environment.

Her recent appearances as soloist with the Sunshine Choral Society and the Noosa Chorale have been in Handel's 'Samson' in 2008, Haydn's ‘Creation’ in 2007 and 2009, and ‘Opera Favourites’ in 2006.

Leisa Barry Smith Soprano Bold and Brassy 2005  Night and Day 2007	Chris Fennessy Tenor An Evening in Vienna 2005 Movies Golden Moments 2006  Night and Day 2007
Danielle Everett Soprano Night and Day 2007	Georgia Hawes Soprano Two by Two 2005
Kate Miller-Heidke Soprano Two by Two 2005	Russell Gray Cornet Soloist Bold and Brassy 2005
Mark Ham Jazz Singer & Trombone Soloist Bold and Brassy 2005	Chris Saunders Tenor New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2007
Chris Herden Tenor Best of British 2007	Janice Hancock Comedienne Return of the Celts 2006 Best of British 2007
Louise Kennedy Soprano	Jennifer Parish and Stewart Cameron Soprano and Baritone Best of British 2006
Sarah Crane Soprano Return of the Celts 2006 New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2007	Shaun Brown Tenor Two by Two 2005 Return of the Celts 2006 Swing Swing Swing 2007
Gregory Moore Tenor Two by Two 2005 Return of the Celts 2006 An Evening In Vienna 2006 Pride of the Celts 2008 Celtic Fantasy 2009	Marusia Soprano Movies Golden Moments 2006  (Pops Young Artists Program)
Michael-John Hurney Tenor Beatles to Bacharach 2007 Chartbusters 2009	Dimitri Kopanakis Tenor An Evening In Vienna 2006 From Ballet to Boogie 2008
Helen Donaldson Soprano From Ballet to Boogie 2008	Jason Barry-Smith Baritone An Evening in Vienna 2005 Night and Day 2007 Songs of Inspiration Album 2007 New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2007 New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2008 Best of British 2009 New Year’s Eve 2009 Best of British 2010
Andrew Firth Saxophone/Clarinet Soloist Swing Swing Swing 2007	James Van Elswyk and Samantha Newcombe Ballroom Dancers An Evening in Vienna 2005 An Evening in Vienna 2006 Swing Swing Swing 2007 New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2007
Leslie Martin Soprano An Evening In Vienna 2006	Simon Gallaher Tenor One Enchanted Evening 2008
Julie Anthony Soprano One enchanted Evening	Ian Maurice Entertainer In The Mood 2008
Kirby Lunn Soprano In The Mood 2008 (Pops Young Artists Program) Movie Magic 2009	Ellen Reed Soprano Chartbusters 2009 (Pops Young Artists Program)
Jordan Pollard Tenor Pride of the Celts 2008 (Pops Young Artists Program) Movie Magic 2009	David Kidd Tenor New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2008 New Year’s Eve Gala Concert 2009
Virgilio Marino Tenor New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2008 New Year’s Eve Gala Concert 2009	John Wood Actor Family Pops – Peter and The Wolf 2010
Emily Branford Narrator Family Pops –  Miss Lily’s Fabulous Pink Feather Boa 2010	Angela Harding Soprano Celtic Fantasy 2009
Rod Smith Piper Return of the Celts 2006 Pride of the Celts 2008 Celtic Fantasy 2009	Darin Cook Piper Celtic Fantasy 2009
Jason Palfrey Piper Return of the Celts 2006 Pride of the Celts 2008	& amp; lt; ;h4>Liza Beamish Soprano Best of British 2009
Villanova Irish Ensemble Pride of the Celts 2008 Celtic Fantasy 2009	The Voices of Birralee Youth Choir Songs Of Inspiration Album 2007 Beatles To Bacharach 2007 Pride of the Celts 2008 Chartbusters 2009 Celtic Fantasy 2009
Brisbane City Temple Band Brass Band Best Of British 2006	Brisbane Excelsior Brass Band Brass Band Best of British 2010
Belladiva Pop-opera group New Year’s Eve Spectacular 2008 New Year’s Eve Gala Concert 2009	Thistle Highland Dancers Scottish Dancers Return of the Celts 2006 Pride of the Celts 2008 Celtic Fantasy 2009
Watkins Academy of Irish Dance Irish Dancers Return of the Celts 2006 Pride of the Celts 2008 Celtic Fantasy 2009	The Queensland Choir Director Kevin Power Best of British 2008 Best of British 2009
Velocity Dance Crew Dancers From Ballet to Boogie 2008	Brisbane Brass Brass Band In The Mood 2008
The Queensland Philharmonic Chorale Choir Movies Golden Moments 2006	The Brisbane Chorale Choir Best of British 2006
Spencer Howson Brisbane 612ABC Radio Personality Best of British 2010 Family Pops 2 - Babar the Elephant 2010