James Andrew Olds (born 20 February 1986) is an Australian bass. He holds a Masters of Music in Performance (Voice & Opera) from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, and currently performs with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House.

James Olds
Born (1986-02-20) February 20, 1986 (age 38)
Sydney, Australia
Years active2004–present
Websitejamesolds.com

Biography

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In 2016, Olds made his debut as a principal artist with Opera Australia performing the role of The Officer in Rossini's The Barber of Seville and in 2018 performed the role of Sergeant in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in La bohème.[1][2]

Olds has been an active member of the Opera Australia chorus since 2009. He has appeared in productions of Anna Bolena, Aida, Verdi Requiem, Parsifal, King Roger, Cavalleria rusticana, Pagliacci, Carmen, La bohème, The Love for Three Oranges, Simon Boccanegra, The Barber of Seville, La traviata,[3] Lakmé, The Merry Widow, Macbeth, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Der Rosenkavalier and Fidelio.

In 2019, Olds will be performing alongside Jonas Kaufmann for the second time in concert performances of Andrea Chénier for Opera Australia and was selected as a Finalist for the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Foundation's third Sydney International Song Prize.[4] Olds was also crowned the Winner of three sections at the 2019 Sydney Eisteddfod; Male Operatic Voices, Lieder (Open Age) and French and German art song.

In 2016, he was the recipient of both the Sanderson Award and the Hawaiian Performing Arts Festival Prize at Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Foundation's Bel Canto Award Final and was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship.[5]

In 2015, Olds performed the role of Count Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro for Rockdale Opera[6] and was the Winner of the 34th National Liederfest,[7] which secured him a scholarship at the Franz Schubert-Institut in Austria where he worked closely with Elly Ameling, Helmut Deutsch, Andreas Schmidt, Robert Holl, Rudolf Jansen and Werner Güra.[8]

In 2013, Olds accepted a scholarship into the Artist Masters Programme at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he studied under Welsh Soprano Marilyn Rees.[9] That same year, Olds toured the UK and France with Diva Opera again performing the role of The Officer in Rossini's The Barber of Seville[10] and was a finalist in the Australian Music Foundation Awards at Wigmore Hall.

While in London, Olds performed the role of Betto in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi for St. Paul's Opera and the roles of Rocco (Fidelio), Leporello (Don Giovanni), and Dr. Dulcamara (L'elisir d'amore) for Guildhall Postgraduate Opera at the Milton Court Theatre.[11]

Opera Australia

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Awards, achievements and roles

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Institution/Company Award/Achievement/Role Year
Sydney Conservatorium of Music Mary Patricia Bell Scholarship 2004
Opera Australia Chorus 2009–2019
Pacific Opera Young Artist Programme 2010
Sydney University Judge Turpin, Sweeney Todd 2010
Guildhall School of Music and Drama Artist Masters Programme 2013
Diva Opera Un Ufficiale, The Barber of Seville 2013
London Contemporary Opera Chorus, The Schmürz 2013
Australian Music Foundation Awards Finalist 2013
St. Paul's Opera Betto, Gianni Schicchi 2013
Guildhall School of Music and Drama Drum Maker (Cover), The Adventures of Pinocchio – Dove 2013
Guildhall School of Music and Drama Chorus, The Adventures of Pinocchio – Dove 2013
Guildhall School of Music and Drama Rocco, Fidelio (Scenes) 2014
Guildhall School of Music and Drama Leporello, Don Giovanni (Scenes) 2014
Guildhall School of Music and Drama Dr. Dulcamara, L'elisir d'amore (Scenes) 2014
34th National Liederfest Winner 2015
Rockdale Opera Company Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro 2015
Open Lieder Prize (Wollongong Eisteddfod) Winner 2015
Open Aria Prize (Wollongong Eisteddfod) Finalist 2016
Bel Canto Award (JS&RB Foundation Bel Canto Awards) Finalist 2016
Sanderson Award (JS&RB Foundation Bel Canto Awards) Winner 2016
Hawaii Performing Arts Awards (JS&RB Foundation Bel Canto Awards) Winner 2016
Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship Semi-finalist 2015
Opera Australia Officer, The Barber of Seville 2016
Opera Australia Sergeant, La bohème 2018
Sydney International Song Prize (JS&RB Foundation) Finalist 2019
Sydney Eisteddfod Open Male Operatic Voice Prize Winner 2019
Sydney Eisteddfod Open Lieder Prize Winner 2019
Sydney Eisteddfod Open French & German Art Song Prize Winner 2019

References

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  1. ^ "Artists – Opera Australia". Opera Australia.
  2. ^ "La Boheme on Sydney Harbour". Opera Australia.
  3. ^ "Bass James Olds to Perform in La Traviata Sydney Spectacle". Opera Fresh.
  4. ^ "Sydney International Song Prize". Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation.
  5. ^ "James Olds". Sydney Eisteddfod.
  6. ^ "The Marriage of Figaro". Stage Whispers.
  7. ^ "Winners – National Liederfest". Lieder Society of Victoria.
  8. ^ "Roster of Teachers". Franz Schubert-Institut.
  9. ^ "Vocal Studies Staff". Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
  10. ^ "The Barber of Seville". Diva Opera.
  11. ^ Olds, James. "Opera Australia Artists". Opera Australia Official Website. Opera Australia. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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