Choral Scholars 2011

PETER ADAMS (baritone) is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, having studied under renowned tenor Gregory Massingham.  Since graduation, Peter has continued his studies in choral music under the tutelage of Emily Cox.  He is a member of Canticum Chamber Choir, touring with them in July 2005 to Kyoto, Japan for the 7th International Choral Symposium.  He has been recorded as a soloist with Canticum: on their latest CD In Paradisum, and in August 2007 as part of ABC Classic FM's Sunday Live program.

Peter performs regularly as a soloist with ensembles around Brisbane, including the Queensland University Musical Society (QUMS), Brisbane Chorale, and the chamber music group Collusion.  He performed the role of the Black Cat in the Conservatorium Opera School's double bill production of Les mamelles de Tiresias and L'enfant et les sortileges in 2006, as well as understudying the role of 'The Director'.  Other recent credits include a performance as the bass soloist for the 2007 Intervarsity Choral Festival's performance of Trionfo di Afrodite from Carl Orff's Trionfi Triptych and in 2008 as the bass soloist in Handel's Judas Maccabaeus with QUMS.  He most recently performed the title role in Benjamin Britten's St Nicholas Cantata in his Tenor debut, again with QUMS.  Peter has been a Choral Scholar at St Mary's since 2005. Peter is currently on leave for overseas travel.

EMMA ROWE (soprano) is acting Choral Scholar while Peter Adams is on leave.  Emma comes from Far North Queensland and is now based in Brisbane. She graduated from the Qld Conservatorium in 2009 with a Bachelor of Performance/Pedagogy (Classical Voice) under Margaret Schindler. She has participated in many Conservatorium opera productions over the last 5 years. Her favourites include Poulenc's Les Mamelles de Tirésias and Britten's Midsummer Nights Dream, and her first minor role was in 2006 as the 'white cat' in Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortilèges. In 2009 Emma performed the role of The Israelite Woman in the Conservatorium's performance of Handel's Saul, and as a chorister has performed numerous major choral works from the repertoire. She has appeared on numerous occasions as soloist with Canticum Chamber Choir and has performed as soprano soloist in John Rutter's Requiem with the Brisbane Chorale. Emma works from her home studio, teaching singing and piano, and has been a vocal coach for the Brisbane Chorale. She is currently undertaking postgraduate study in choral conducting at the Conservatorium and conducts the Birralee Piccolos.

CHRISTIAN TADMAN-ROBINS (tenor) began playing the flute at the age of seven and sang as a chorister at Westminster Abbey. At the age of twelve, he was awarded a government scholarship to the Purcell School (one of three specialist music schools in the UK) where he studied with Susan Milan and Nina Thomson. While at school he performed all over the UK and in many well-known London venues including The Purcell Room, Buckingham Palace, The Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Royal Albert Hall, making his debut as soloist with the London Soloists Chamber Orchestra at St Martin in the Fields performing Vivaldi's La Notte Concerto and Bach's Brandenburg 5. He appeared in the Audi Young Musician of the Year, and reached the later stages of the BBC Young Musician of the Year. During the same year, he won a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Chamber Orchestra of Great Britain, performing on several occasions at the BBC Proms and touring to Stuttgart in Germany.

Christian is currently completing his BMus at the University of Queensland (studying with Patrick Nolan) having studied with Richard Davis and Linda Verier at the Royal Northern College of Music and with David Nicholson at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.  He is a regular member of the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra Corda Spiritus of St Andrews and is a Choral Scholar at St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point.