Martene Grimson
At School
We knew Martene Grimson had a very special soprano voice while she was a student at Danebank and we were thrilled by her farewell performance for the school at Speech Night in 1996. After graduating from Danebank that year, she attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she graduated with B Mus (Hons) in 2000.
Awards
Martene’s hard work and great talent have led to her receiving many awards. She was selected as a Finalist in the Australian Singing Competition 2000 Mathy awards. Her prize from this competition was a Laura Ashley scholarship at the Royal College of Music in London to undertake a Graduate Diploma course, completed in 2002. Martene went on to complete the Diploma of Advanced Opera at the Benjamin Britten Opera School, Royal College of Music, UK, in 2004. She also attended the National Opera Studio.
Her other awards include the Maggie Teyte prize, the Miriam Licettte Scholarship, awarded in 2004 and the Madeline Finden Memorial Award. She was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Awards where she received second prize in 2006. She has also been awarded a Wingate Scholarship and Australian Music Foundation Award.
International Career
Martene is permanently based in London. Her voice has been described as “utterly captivating and sweet” (Christopher Morley, Opera Magazine). She performs classical repertoire at venues in the United Kingdom and Europe through operatic engagements, concerts, festivals and recitals. She has sometimes returned to Australia to perform, notably for the Pinchgut Opera Company where she sang Ilia in Idomeneo in 2007. We were also delighted to see her on television in 2006 when she was chosen to sing the Australian National Anthem at the Australia/Great Britain Rugby Union final.
Martene’s operatic roles include: Susana in Le Nozze di Figaro (for Opera East); Melia in Apollo and Hyacinthus; First Witch in Dido and Aeneas (UK Opera North); Laurette in Bizet’s Le Docteur Miracle and Hyacinthus in Apollo and Hyacinthus, Aminta in Il Re Pastore and Cinna in Lucio Silla.
Martene’s love of singing began at a very young age. While at school, she decided to work towards an operatic career. Her dedication has been rewarded. She has been acclaimed for her performances and she continues to expand her repertoire today. Martene’s wonderful success has resulted from her dedication and hard work and we congratulate her.
