Maxine Montgomery

Maxine Montgomery Soprano
Maxine’s love of singing and theatre began at the age of seven, and led her to commence formal singing lesson when she was thirteen. With encouragement from her teacher, Constance Coward-Lemke, Maxine started to look to a career in opera and music theatre.

Maxine completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne between 1993/6. Involvement in the Historic Opera Project saw Maxine sing the roles of Gianetta Don Giovanni and Mrs Chase Stella. Other operatic roles have been Manuela in the world premiere of Christopher Columbus, as well as chorus in The Magic Flute, Le Jongleur de Notre Dame, and Magdalena (all for the Ballarat Opera Festival).

In 2001, she completed her GradDipMus (Opera Performance) at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University under Jan Delpratt. While there, she was awarded both the entrance and post-graduate singing scholarships. Maxine also attained her L.Mus.A. in singing, passing with distinction.

Maxine did chorus work with Opera Queensland in their 2002 concert performance of La Damnation de Faust. She returned to Ballarat in March 2002 and is presently studying with Anna Connolly. She was awarded the 2002 Arnold Matters Vocal Scholarship at the Adelaide Eisteddfod. In November 2002, Maxine made her Opera Australia debut in the chorus of the Melbourne productions of Iolanthe and Der Rosenkavalier.

In 2003, Maxine delighted in playing the role of Mrs Lovett in Sondheim’s musical thriller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street for the Ballarat Light Opera Company. Her accomplished performance in the role was recognised when she was awarded the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria’s Award for best leading actress for 2003. She took a month long study trip to Italy in July where she participated in a masterclass with Mirella Freni. In October, she sang in the final of the Melbourne Herald-Sun Aria. In 2004 Maxine performed the role of Clown in OzOpera’s Schools Company performances of Sid the Serpent Who Wanted To Sing.

Maxine's NOS studies are supported by the Opera Foundation Australia 2004 Covent Garden National Opera Studio Scholarship.