01/06/2026
Sunday 7th June 2026 at 09:30am
We are thrilled to have special guest Jennifer Barnes will be attending and blessing us with her operatic voice, therefore you are all invited to attend this special service.
I have included a breif Biography on Jennifer Barnes as well as a photo of her for you to look at and read at your leisure. She has extensive vocal experience and will be an absolute joy to listen to her beautiful voice as she sings with us.
Please share with family and friends as this is an event you don't want to miss.
Jennifer Barnes Biography
Dr Jennifer Barnes has enjoyed a varied career in music, as a performer, a conductor, a researcher and a teacher.
Beginning as a child TV performer on NBN Swallows Juniors in the 1960s, Jennifer graduated to contemporary music with New Life Singers. Her love of singing developed through singing Art Song, Oratorio, A Capella and Opera firstly with Hunter groups such as Newcastle University Choir, Newcastle City Choir, The Hunter Orchestra, Hunter Consort of Voices, Sound Construction Company and Opera Hunter plus Gosford City and Philharmonia Choirs.
In 1997, Jennifer became a principal artist with Opera Australia, performing the roles of Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Frasquita (Carmen), Antonia (Tales of Hoffman) and the Alms Sister (Suor Angelica) as well as covering the roles of Ellen Orford (Peter Grimes) and the Governess (The Turn of the Screw). 2004 brought a career highlight with the role of the Valkyrie Grimgerde in the State Opera of South Australia production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Jennifer has broadcast live on two occasions for ABC Classic FM in addition to taking part in the opening concert of the Federation Concert Hall in Hobart, Opera Under the Stars in Broome, Sydney Philharmonia Messiah as soprano soloist, soprano soloist for the Sesquicentenary Concert of Lloyd Webber’s Requiem at Sydney Town Hall plus recitals for the University of Newcastle Conservatorium and community concerts.
When not singing opera, Jennifer enjoys singing in small ensembles, the most recent being Waxing Lyrical with Rosemary Saunders, Christopher Allan and Paul Bevan.
Jennifer achieved her PhD in 2008 with her thesis titled “Subjective audibility in the operatic soprano voice”. This included the publication of a paper in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Jennifer is available to conduct workshops on aspects of voice performance and its relationship to the underlying physiology.
After making her oratorio debut with Newcastle University Choir, Jennifer became their Artistic Musical Director from 2009 to 2011, returning in 2014 and 2015 for major WW1 and WW2 anniversaries.
Jennifer operated a private teaching studio in partnership with her husband, clarinet and saxophone teacher, Rod Barnes, from 1980 to 2019. Jennifer is now a Voice examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) in NSW.
In January 2024, Jennifer was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to opera and the community. She remains musically active by conducting her church choir, singing with Newcastle University Choir and singing with the Newcastle Festival Chamber Choir.
Can't wait to see you there, Morning Tea will be provided after the service.
