Penelope is available to work with professional and student singers in preparation for roles, concerts, auditions, and exams, or in the ongoing development of musical or lyric diction skills. Her work with singers is based in extensive experience playing for singing lessons and vocal masterclasses. Her coaching techniques are also greatly influenced by her knowledge and love of language and its interaction with the singing voice.

Penelope graduated with distinction from a Masters in Lied Accompaniment and Vocal Coaching from the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (Vienna), where she studied with Dr Carolyn Hague, and also received the Viennese Ministry of Culture/MUK Prize for an Outstanding Masters Thesis. Penelope’s PhD specialising in lyric diction pedagogy is now cited as a landmark study in the field. From 2017 to 2020 Penelope gave yearly masterclasses in German Lieder and German lyric diction at the University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music, New Zealand, and she was adjudicator at the 37th National Liederfest, Melbourne. In 2020 she received a Lisa Gasteen National Opera Program grant for professional development and was a presenter at the 2020 Conference of the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing. In 2021 she was a faculty member of the State Opera of South Australia Opera Academy and in 2022 was a masterclass presenter for Co-Opera. She is a staff member at the Elder Conservatorium of Music teaching introductory classes in Italian and German lyric diction and guest teaching in the voice performance class.

Penelope’s experience also includes performing for eminent singers, voice teachers, pianists, and vocal coaches at the following masterclasses and courses:

  • 2017 WAAPA International Art Song Academy: Graham Johnson, Dennis O’Neill
  • 2016 Bel Canto in Tuscany Summer Opera School, Italy: Elizabeth Bishop, Will Crutchfield, Richard Hetherington, Giovanni Reggioli, Dona D. Vaughn
  • 2015 Lisa Gasteen National Opera School: Lisa Gasteen, Richard Hetherington, Sharolyn Kimmorley, Philip Mayers, Giovanni Reggioli, Chris Squires
  • 2015 WAAPA International Art Song Academy: Graham Johnson, Mary King
  • 2014 Lisa Gasteen National Opera School: John Fisher, Lisa Gasteen, Richard Hetherington, Sharolyn Kimmorley, Philip Mayers, Giovanni Reggioli
  • 2014 WAAPA International Art Song Festival: Graham Johnson, Deborah Birnbaum
  • 2011 Franz-Schubert-Institut: Elly Ameling, Barbara Bonney, Julius Drake, Irwin Gage, Robert Holl, Rudolf Jansen, Rudolf Piernay, Roger Vignoles
  • 2010 Meisterklasse Lied, MUK: Helmut Deutsch
  • 2010 Stimmen Festival Freistadt: Roger Vignoles
  • 2010 Wiener Meisterkurse: Graham Johnson
  • 2010 Wiener Musikverein Meisterklasse Gesang: Michael Schade
  • 2009 Wiener Musikverein Meisterklasse Gesang: Bernarda Fink
  • 2008 Oxford Lieder Festival Mastercourse: Eugene Asti, Julius Drake, Sarah Walker
  • 2008 Franz-Schubert-Institut: Elly Ameling, Julius Drake, Wolfgang Holzmair, Rudolf Jansen, Michael McMahon, Rudolf Piernay, Wolfram Rieger, Edith Wiens
  • 2008 International Masterclasses for Lied Duos, Amsterdam: Rudolf Jansen
  • 2007 International Lied Masterclasses, Amsterdam: Rudolf Jansen, Udo Reinemann, David Selig
  • 2007 Public Lied Masterclass, Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam: Irwin Gage