Girl in Tell Me On A Sunday Photo Credit: Jason Wade
Christine in Phantom of the Opera Photo Credit: Borden Li
Bio
“My passion is to elicit authenticity through meaningful voice work. A proud Estill Master Trainer, I believe bespoke, responsive coaching is vital to effective voice training.”
Julia is the Voice Lecturer at the School of Media Arts, WINTEC for Contemporary Commercial Music and Musical Theatre streams of the Performance Bachelors Degree and Post Graduate Studies. A teaching assistant to Anne-Marie Speed, The Voice Explained, Julia has taught throughout Canada, USA, UK, Europe and Australasia.
Julia is a vocal coach to musical theatre leads throughout New Zealand (Chess, Les Miserables, Hairspray, We Will Rock You) and works alongside touring artists both nationally and internationally.
In addition to stage and teacher training, Julia is passionate about voice rehabilitation for both performers and occupational voice users, working alongside ENTS and SLTs to support specific voice related concerns.
Background
An award winning soprano, Julia has bridged the gap between opera and musical theatre. From performer to passionate teacher, Julia has extensive onstage experience to empower her teaching perspective and approach.
Julia completed a Bachelor of Music (BMus) and Masters of Music (MMus) in Performance Voice with First Class Honours as a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholar (and Medal Winner) from the University of Waikato. She has been a guest artist with the NZSO, APO, CSO and OW and has debuted numerous New Zealand works including Dr Jeremy Mayall’s Flutter and award-winning film collaboration with Dan Inglis’ LOQshun., Michael Williams’ opera The Juniper Passion and David Griffiths’ opera The White Lady.
An experienced musical theatre performer, Julia’s credits include Phantom of the Opera (Christine), Les Miserables (Fantine) , The Secret Garden (Lily) and an upcoming premiere of a New Zealand musical Mum’s Kitchen (Missy).
In 2005 Julia was a student of the New Zealand Opera School, where she met Paul Farrington. This chance encounter was the beginning of a now 15 year journey into the world of Jo Estill, and the Estill Voice Training System. With 500+ hours of observation, 20 Level 1 and 2 Courses and 30+ workshops, Julia became a Certified Estill Master Trainer in 2015, one of only two in New Zealand. The breadth of application that the Estill Model provides has allowed Julia work with people from enormously varied backgrounds. Julia is preparing to become an Estill Master Course Instructor under the mentorship of Anne-Marie Speed.
Julia is interested in collaboration and growth among singing teachers and recently became a Council Member of NEWZATS.
Born and raised in Canada to kiwi parents, Julia returned to New Zealand in 2003. She lives with her husband and three young daughters.