About Me
Early Influences
Having been encouraged to learn the violin from the age of 5, as part of a fantastic music program at Methodist Ladies' College (Perth), I sang and played my way through school, completing my final year of school as Faction Choir Conductor, Speech Night vocal soloist, Senior Strings Ensemble 1st desk, 1st Violins and Lead Viola in the Intermediate Orchestra (it being difficult to play both instruments at once in the same ensemble!).
Although I was keen to join a choir after graduation, there was no such facility at Curtin University, where I was studying Computer Science and Japanese. So it wasn't until I found Perth Harmony in my last year of uni that I was singing regularly again.
Barbershop
I joined Sweet Adelines in 1993 and spent 7 years as an active member of the Perth Harmony Chorus, Region 34 (Australia). During that time I served as a section leader for 5 years, then after completing 6 months of training, I served for just over a year as Assistant Director and Vocal Production Coach for the chorus, leading to Regional Competition in June 2000, where the chorus was ecstatic to achieve a score of 640 points. I gained frontline directing experience, both in rehearsal and public performance situations as well as learning and developing some excellent section rehearsal techniques and a lot of PVI experience.
For 6 years I also performed as a member of the quartet "Fascinatin’ Rhythm", winning silver medals in all 3 Regional contests we entered and exploring the exciting world of the recording studio as we released our 2 CDs in 1998.
In 1999 I was invited to join the Regional Education Faculty for Australia and travelled to choruses in my state to evaluate and coach choruses as an official representative of the Regional Education Coordinator. I also coached choruses and quartets in a private capacity for a number of years during my time in Western Australia.
I arrived in the UK in September 2000 and after settling into work and home life, I started to make contacts in the Region. After the Regional Workshop in Peterborough in November 2000, I began to coach a few quartets and choruses on a regular basis. In the two and a half years I lived near London, I coached 60% the choruses in the region, and a few quartets along the way. I also ran a workshop for quartets in Aberdeen, some public workshops for individual choruses, helped to set up the Regional Education Team, and served as a member of that team for the year before we returned to Australia.
I accepted the role of Education Coordinator for Region 34 (Australia) in 2004 but unfortunately had to resign after only one year of service due to Joseph's illness. I hope to return to the role sometime in the future!
While not pursuing a chorus membership at present, I am actively involved in a quartet and am coaching a number of the WA choruses and quartets as well as providing individual and small group vocal workouts on request. I am also involved in a group interested in promoting barbershop to the youth of Western Australia. Click here for more details.
Classical Work
As part of my desire to improve my performance in my quartet, I started studying classical singing with Joan Hind, completing my 5th and 6th grade AMEB exams before we went to live in London in 2000. I also completed my 3rd grade theory at the same time, then continued my theory studies in 2004, completing my 4th grade exam at 8 months pregnant!
I have a wonderful relationship with the choir of Aldersgate Uniting Church in Nedlands, where I sing solos at their fully orchestrated Christmas Eve service and Sacred Music Recitals. It is a great joy to be able to offer my talents to them, and to be given the opportunity to explore that aspect of my singing!
I also sing at weddings - mostly my friends', but if you know anyone getting married......
My Family
I am lucky enough to have a wonderfully supportive family, with my husband Alexis and two beautiful if time consuming children!
We have a family website at oosterhoff.info if you are really that interested!