Students in the Teen Chorus at the Sydney Opera House

*Content warning: this article contains references to refugee experiences

In May this year, I performed at the Sydney Opera House in the premiere season of a professional chamber opera called Three Marys as part of the Teen Chorus. It was a truly amazing experience to work alongside extraordinarily talented industry professionals, and I feel so fortunate to have been involved.

Three Marys is inspired by the medieval legend (which has many versions) of the biblical women Maria, Magdalena, and Sarah-Marie banished from their homeland and forced out to sea in an oarless boat. Their story is interwoven with that of Tunisian fisherman Marzoug, a real man who collects the anonymous bodies of drowned refugees who wash up on shore, giving them dignity in burial. The Teen Chorus are the spirits of refugee children lost at sea whose memories and names are slipping away. It’s a story with powerful contemporary resonance, as today’s refugees from war, famine and climate change also journey across oceans in search of safety.

I’ve been involved in this opera since a week-long workshop in 2022 through the Arts Unit, when the score was still being developed, and I auditioned to be in the chorus (over zoom while in Germany!) later that year. Through the production’s many rehearsals, I made friends and met some amazing people. We were conducted by Simon Kenway, who taught us the Italian for energy (ENERGIA!!), a prompt used liberally on full-day rehearsals. Composer Andrée Greenwell was present for rehearsals, which meant that our performance was shaped by her intent and enriched by the resulting deeper understanding of the piece. Christine Evans’ beautiful libretto added poetry to each moment, but I won’t reveal too much so as to not spoil it! Our director Angela Chaplin lit the room and had consistently excellent shoes (it was a Thing). Kirsty, our stage manager, was literally the most organised person I have ever met, and our costume designer Meg was so lovely and skilled. Sorry to bore you – I know you don’t know these people – but they truly deserve shout outs!!

The Teen Chorus was an auditioned group from the Arts Unit Senior Singers and included Fortian Andy Bestel, ex-Fortian Caleb Mayo, and myself.

I was honestly starstruck by the amazing cast of four professional opera singers – Heru, Eddie, Samantha, and Jessica. Definitely a pinch-me moment when we got out of chorus rehearsals and note-reading to fully stage the opera with the cast. I was on such a musical high after our Sitzprobe [German: sitting rehearsal], the first rehearsal with the orchestra, and it was so exciting when we got to the actual venue with mics, costumes, and the final acoustics.

Opening night on 11 May was electric: our stage manager Kirsty had left the message “toi toi toi!” (theatre talk for good luck) across our dressing room mirrors and given us baskets of fruit and snacks, composer Andrée gave us beautiful orchids and seashell bracelets, and singer Jess gave us a card addressed to “Dearest Water Children.” The post-show high left me and a fellow chorus member laughing deliriously on the train back home; opening nights are truly special! 

Now for the reason I’m writing about this now and not back in May: the opera was recorded live on one of our performances, and from 12pm Sunday 24 September 2023 this will be available at https://stream.sydneyoperahouse.com/videos/green-room-music-three-marys-2023 to stream! I’m so excited to watch this and relive this amazing experience. If you’re interested in watching it, please do – and let me know what you think!!

Thanks for reading all this way 🙂

Sofie Andersen, year 11 soprano