GRACE BAWDEN

(Vocals)

“I am proud to be a part of the United Progressive Fraternity and I am deeply honoured to be working with so many wonderfully talented musicians who are passionate about their music and environment because I believe it is important to love and protect our planet and its precious resources. I am concerned about the devastation caused to our river-ways such as that witnessed by the destruction of the Coorong & Murray River systems across South Australia as well as other parts of the Eastern water ways. Equally, I am troubled by the visual & environmental pollution caused by wars, poverty and famine, including the destruction of historical monuments and natural surrounds. It is my hope that my voice and music will inspire audiences to find a deeper connection to their environment and human compassion for their fellow man.”

By age 14, soprano Grace Bawden’s voice was already likened to a Stradivarius by a former State Opera Chorus Master.

Grace’s mature, operatic voice can soar from highs to lows across over four octaves.

At age 15, Grace was a Judge’s Choice, Grand Finalist in the Channel 7 Australia’s Got Talent 2008 series & has already been noticed by many heavy-weights in the music & entertainment industry, including Entertainment Editor, Richard Wilkins; Australian Idol Judge, Mark Holden, BJ Cook, & Hans Ebert, Former Executive Director, Universal Music & EMI SE Asia.

In 2008, Grace completed work on her Debut Album “Gifts of Grace”, with multi-award winning Producer/ Writer, Audius Mtawarira and despite offer of a recording contract by a major Sony BMG, Grace remains an independent artist. One of her highlights was singing with the Soweto Gospel Choir, as featured in “Cold Outside”. Later in 2008, Grace sold-out her Sydney Opera House show for World Youth Day, finishing to a standing ovation.

In 2010, Grace was ranked #57 out of over 2000 applicants world-wide for entry into the prestigious Centro Universale del Bel Canto (CUBEC) in Modena, Italy; run by one of Italy’s most revered & beloved sopranos, Ms Mirella Freni. As one of the youngest (by average of 7 years) Grace was one of only 60 auditionees to even be ranked as “Fit for Entry”. Grace one day hopes to study at the La Scuola Dell’ Opera Italiana in Bologna, where a place has been exclusively reserved pending raising the substantial scholarship funds needed for her tuition.

In 2014, Grace attracted full-house standing ovations to a sell-out season of Co-Opera’s production of Madama Butterfly, performing in the lead role of Cio-Cio San. Since then, Grace has performed as Leonora (Il Trovatore), Despina (Cosi Fan Tutte), Countess (Marriage of Figaro), Yum Yum (The Mikado) and Mimi (La Boheme).

Grace has featured in global news through NITV and SBS World News and is also the subject of a feature documentary, “Finding Grace” which is currently in production. In recognition of her charitable work through the arts, Grace was made a “Living Legend” of the City of Salisbury, a “Friends of Australia” Ambassador to Tourism Australia & “Young Citizen of the Year 2012”.

KEITH THOMAS, Levosia (Multi-award winning Sony Producer to Charlotte Church):Grace’s voice is one of the best I’ve ever heard!! …Dear God, this girl is a star! In my opinion, all she needs to do is stand up there & smile the way she does. The music is a bonus! That’s star power for you.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Bawden