Julie, a former Young resident who now lives at Harden, travelled to Ballarat last weekend for rehearsal with the orchestra.

It’s the orchestra’s second concert of the year and Julie will be performing four arias in the program, such as “O Mio Babbino Caro” by Puccini and Dvorak’s “Song to the Moon” from Czech opera Rusalka. 

Mark Shiell, who founded the Choir of the Southern Cross some years ago in Young, will be conducting the program on Sunday and is credited with discovering Julie’s unique talents. 

He has been keen to develop them and give her opportunities to sing and be heard ever since.

Now based in Melbourne, Mark regularly travels back to Young to visit and works with a number of orchestras including the Macquarie Philharmonia,  based in Bathurst.

A number of passionate supporters of Julie and Mark are expected to make the long journey in support of what will be a special Sunday afternoon performance.

Julie has performed many lead roles in musicals including The Pirates of Penzance, Oklahoma, Camelot and Cosette in Les Miserables. 

Julie was also a soloist  in Handel’s Messiah with Canberra Concerto Orchestra and in Melbourne’s Summer Music Series with the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra. 

She performed the role of Despina in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte and was soloist in Opera at The Dish’ in Parkes and the Bellini To Broadway tour with the Macquarie Philharmonia.  

Julie also performs in cabaret shows with vocal harmony group Counterpoint.