Biography

Greta Bradman, soprano
One of "Australia"s finest young singers" The Advertiser

Greta Bradman has recently emerged as one of the foremost sopranos of her generation but the beautiful young singer with a powerhouse voice and commanding stage presence is no overnight sensation.

"...soprano Greta Bradman was by far the most engaging performer. Her potent presence seems to come from a sincere sensitivity laid bare. ...Bradman will bring something new and original to Australia" musical landscape" Herald Sun

For many years Greta lived a duel life. No stranger to hard work, she simultaneously juggled careers as a musician and as a psychologist. Just two years ago she decided to follow her heart and 2010 was the first year in which singing was Greta´s ‘day job’.

The industry was ready for her ‘arrival’. Her full lyric soprano voice and coloratura ability has been acclaimed for its accuracy and unusually large vocal range, warmth and fullness of tone and its capability of great vocal sensitivity and flexibility. She is now a much sought-after recitalist and concert performer, and a recording artist with Sony Music. She was shortlisted as "best newcomer" in the 2010 ABC Limelight Magazine Awards and received a 2010 ARIA Award nomination for her debut album, Forest of Dreams (Sony Music Australia). In the same year she won the 2010 RMP Aria Competition People´s Choice Award and the Mietta Song Competition Murray River International Music Festival Prize.

Greta has recorded with fellow Sony Music artist Mark Vincent for his gold selling album Compass, has independently released two award-winning albums with vocal trio Eve and recorded with the Australian String Quartet for ABC Classics. Particularly close to her heart is the song Every Day is Rainbow Day for Me, which she recorded for the ABC Classics release Don Bradman: The Music He Loved. The song was written by her grandfather, the iconic Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman and was the only new recording featured in the compilation of songs selected from his own record collection.

"with Bradman´s gorgeous voice soaring rapturously, her performance was superb - the music, exquisitely sung" The Advertiser

Greta studied piano from an early age. She also studied composition in her final school year for which she received a perfect score, along with the state composition prize and the school music prize. She didn´t study singing until university, but was an active chorister throughout school and sang as a soloist in choral works and school musicals.

Greta auditioned for classical voice performance at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in her hometown of Adelaide with no formal vocal training. Her musicality and natural talent were evident and she was accepted. She went on to complete her Bachelor of Music with distinction, picking up three music prizes along the way.

Throughout Greta´s undergraduate years, she remained steadfast at keeping her passion for singing as a much-loved extracurricular activity, concurrently completing her Bachelor of Arts majoring in psychology and linguistics, and received several University Prizes. She continued on to complete her Honours Psychology degree, which she topped and was awarded the Australian Psychological Association Prize. This led her to receive scholarships including an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship towards her PhD in psychology and full funding towards a Master of Psychology (Clinical). Increasingly, however, she found the pull of music and her love for the voice irresistible until the shift towards the wholehearted pursuit of a career in music became inevitable, despite her love for psychology and academia.

"The Stabat Mater showcased Adelaide soprano Greta Bradman, whose depiction of sorrowful and refined beauty was transfixing." The West Australian

In her music career to date, Greta has focused on oratorio, Lieder and art song, new music and chamber works from the 17th through 21st centuries. She is a great advocate of Australian music and has had works arranged and composed for her by Australian composers including Ross Edwards.

Greta was given the great honour of being the soprano soloist in Ross Edwards´ Symphony No. 2 with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, a work written for legendary Australian soprano Yvonne Kenny (who has also coached and been a personal inspiration for Greta). She was also a principal singer for Carols in the Domain and undertook national tours with the Australian String Quartet and Welsh baritone Aled Jones. Other engagements have included performances with pianist Leigh Harrold, pianist Kathy Selby, harpist Marshall McGuire, Melbourne early music ensemble Latitude 37, Kegelstatt Ensemble, Soundstream New Music ensemble, Langbeiner String Quartet, Adelaide Chamber Players, and Adelaide Baroque.

2011 continues to be a busy year after the release her second album Grace in August. She will support international star tenor Russell Watson on his national tour, perform as soprano soloist in Bach´s B Minor Mass with the Sydney Philharmonia Symphony Chorus and collaborate on chamber music concerts with Selby and Friends, the Zephyr String Quartet and the Syzygy New Music Ensemble. She completes the year with Handel´s Messiah at the Melbourne Town Hall with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choirs.

Greta is also sought after as a guest singer for special events and charity functions and is proud to have supported charities that are close to her heart, including the Murdoch Children´s Institute, Beyond Blue, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, and the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation.

Greta lives in Melbourne with her husband Didier and sons Jude and Caspar.

GRETA BRADMAN - GRACE - RELEASED 26TH AUGUST THROUGH SONY MUSIC AUSTRALIA.