Spotlight on Emma Kavanagh

Meet Emma Kavanagh – proud AGC Alumni, performer, and ASPA’s Music and Production Coordinator.

In January this year, Emma achieved her most coveted career highlight to date, performing to thousands at Sydney Opera House amongst some of the country’s top performers including William Barton, Dami Im, Casey Donovan, Christine Anu and Isaiah Firebrace. Like the journeys of many performing artists, Emma’s is one of hard work, commitment and resilience. Read on to discover how Emma transformed her love of music into a successful career in the performing arts.

Where it all began…

Twelve years ago in Adelaide, Emma’s journey with the AGC began, and instantly she wished she had joined sooner! A Year 9 student at the time, Emma’s entry into the AGC may be considered late by some, but little did she know that it was just the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship with singing and the AGC.

In 2013, Emma had the opportunity to take her passion for performing overseas as part of AGC’s International Tour. As part of this tour, Emma ventured to Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Boston and New York. To this day, the International Tour still holds up as one of Emma’s favourite career moments.

“I have had many performance highlights, and I would have to put International Tour with the Australian Girls Choir in 2013 right up there on that list!”

From chorister to AGC staff member

Working at the AGC is a goal that many of our choristers aspire towards, including the ambitious Emma who wasn’t ready to part ways with the choir after graduating. While studying a Bachelor of Classical Music in Voice at the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide, Emma naturally progressed into a Venue Manager Trainee role at our Glenelg venue. While classical voice was something Emma was interested in, Musical Theatre had a stronger pull, eventually leading her to Brisbane to study the Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. Whilst in Brisbane, Emma continued to grow with the AGC as a Tutor – a role she still holds today in Melbourne.

“I have been based in three states so far and feel so grateful to have had a supportive network of lovely choir friends that I met at Music Schools and on Tour with AGC during my time as a chorister, and also wonderful staff teams who have welcomed me in to their team to work with them.”

Pursuing a career in performing arts

Before even finishing her Musical Theatre degree, Emma’s performance career had already begun. In 2018 Emma was honoured to be the Guest Vocalist on Mirusia Louwerse’s 2018 “From the Heart” Australian tour, in addition to singing alongside Eddie Muliaumaseali’i at the Queensland Pops Orchestra’s “New Year’s Eve Concert” at QPAC. Since graduating Emma has continued to progress in the Opera world and Music Theatre industry while simultaneously progressing with AGC into a Music and Production role at our Melbourne Head Office. On how she navigates both careers, Emma says

“I go to regular singing, dance lessons, masterclasses and workshops as I am always wanting to improve my skills. I love bringing that experience back to my work in the Music and Production Team, and of course sharing knowledge that I gain with the choristers I work with at AGC… performing and teaching go hand-in-hand.”

Emma makes balancing her teaching and performance worlds look easy, however she advises any choristers wishing to go down the same path to “(never) underestimate the value of hard work, persistence and passion.”

“My advice would be to always keep training and learning, remember to keep singing just for the love of it.”

Emma’s own hard work and persistence continues to pay off, with her performance at the Australia Day 2023 Live Concert at Sydney Opera House marking a major milestone in her singing career. Despite performing to thousands of people, sharing a stage with some of Australia’s best vocalists and working with industry great John Foreman, Emma remains humbled and awed by her experience, and feels honoured to have been asked to perform with Mirusia again.

“It’s not every day you have the chance to sing in front of the Opera House on National TV with a live orchestra, and an amazing backdrop of fireworks and projections, alongside artists of that calibre that I have watched and admired for years!”

Like all of our AGC Alumni, we love watching Emma achieve her goals as a performer and staff member, and look forward to seeing where Emma’s career will soar to next!