Success Stories
MAKING HER OPERA DEBUT
Jemima Sutton is a passionate and dedicated performer who is taking on a new challenge. Jemima is joining Opera Australia in the children's chorus of Bizet's Carmen, at The Regent Theatre this November.
Most recently, she played Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (National Theatre Youth Drama), Little Red in Into the Woods (Soundworks), Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors (MSJ), Player 7, aka Moana in WMTC’s production of Dare to Dream and Adult Princess Fiona in Shrek (Melbourne Kids Theatre). Previously she performed as Charley Bates in Oliver! (WAT), where she was honoured with the Director’s Award. Other notable stage credits include Lily in Alice in Wonderland (WMTC), Middle Elsa in Frozen (WMTC), Annie in Annie (Musicworx), and the Genie in Aladdin (Melbourne Kids Theatre).
Jemima is also experienced in regular screen and commercial work. She trains privately in acting with Daniel Cosgrove (DCO), and takes weekly vocal lessons previously with Callum Warrender, and now Stephanie Wall. She performs in Show Chorus with YABC and trains regularly with Soundworks Academy and the RISE Musical Theatre Program. Her dance training includes Broadway Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop and Tap. She was also awarded the Vocal Scholarship at TDC in 2024. Jemima is proudly represented by IWM Next Gen Agency (formally Centrestage Agency).
We wish Jemima all the best for her operatic debut.
A STAR ON THE RISE
Taysha is an emerging multitalented artist whose passion for music, acting, and performance shines through in every endeavour. At just 10 years old, she played the lead role as a child actress in the horror film Surrogate (r. 2022), which was praised by Stephen King for its intense atmosphere and psychological depth.
At 14 years old, she has already made an impressive mark in the music world with her debut single, "Fearless," an upbeat ballad that showcases her powerful vocals and songwriting ability. Co-written with Billboard-charting producer JhayC of Hitmusic Lab, Fearless has quickly gained attention and is now available on all major platforms.
Fearless has been topping the Euro Indie Music Chart and airing on 600 radio stations!
Taysha's musical journey has been marked by exciting performances, including singing alongside renowned artists such as Chris Sebastian, Paulini, and Hugh Sheridan at the Double Bay Christmas Carols. She was also featured in Coming Together Christmas on Channel C31. With 1 million views on YouTube, 150,000 on Spotify, and a growing fan base, Taysha envisions captivating audiences worldwide through live performances that inspire and connect, she has also achieved number 1 on @Abreak American indie Charts.
Whether acting, singing, playing the piano, or writing her own songs, Taysha’s artistry continues to evolve as she forges a path toward a bright future in the entertainment industry. We are proud to have Taysha as part of the MSJ community.
Listen to Fearless https://youtu.be/9lqhlPxgikI?si=pwj14PLivH6F_coI
IDENTICAL TWINS, IDENTICAL SCORES
It's so amazing, you'd think we made it up! Keira and Shanae Blizzard both received a perfect score of 50 in VET Music! The girls credit hard work, school/life balance and a passion for music for their success. This is also a great achievement for their teacher Mr Nick Tresize. Congratulations everyone! This unusual success story appeared in the local and national press. Links to stories below.
https://maribyrnonghobsonsbay.starweekly.com.au/news/identical-twins-get-identical-subject-score/
OPERA MEZZO-SOPRANO
Emilie Washington began her operatic career after she was selected to be in the Victorian Opera Youth Chorus Ensemble (VOYCE). Her debut performance as a professional opera singer took place in 2017, where she was selected to perform the role of a snail and fox cub in the Victorian Opera’s production ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’. Following this, she has performed in the Victorian Opera’s productions of ‘The Second Hurricane’, ‘The Magic Pudding’, ‘Parsifal’, ‘Il Mago di Oz’. and Tessa in Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria’s production of ‘The Gondoliers’. Emilie performs annually for community events including Christmas at the Lakes, the Laverton Festival, and Citizenship Ceremonies. Emilie was offered a placement in the Berlin Opera Academy's 2023 Summer Festival Singers Program, where she performed the role of Dritte Knabe from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, and undertook a Study Role as Composer from Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos.
Emilie appearing in MSJ's Seussical
Emilie appearing in MSJ's Seussical
VCE PREMIER AWARDS 2020
AN INSPIRATIONAL DRAMA STUDENT
Taj Aldeeb
Taj Aldeeb
Taj Aldeeb (Class of 2016) performed at the Fairfax theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne in 2021, in 'THEM', a play based on the real life stories of people displaced by conflict.
Taj fled Syria with her family, settled in Melbourne and attended MSJ with her two sisters. Another accolade for a high achiever, Taj has since been awarded the Young Leader Award by the Multicultural Commission of Victoria. Congratulations Taj! You can read about her win HERE
STARRING ON THE LONDON STAGE
Trudi Camilleri
Trudi Camilleri
Trudi Camilleri is a former MSJ student and who, for a time after graduating, also taught singing lessons at MSJ. Trudi trained in opera at The Victorian College of the Arts before moving to London to pursue her career. She began her music career at the Melbourne International Festival in the Australian premiere of English Eccentrics. Operatic roles that followed included the titular roles in Suor Angelica and Madam Butterfly, Mimi (La Boheme), Sieglinde (Die Walkure), and Dame Nellie Melba (Remembering Melba). Trudi's musical theatre roles include Anna Edson Taylor (European Premiere of Queen of the Mist) Featured ensemble/Cover Queen Elizabeth I (The Pirate Queen) Cora (UK premiere of Death Takes A Holiday), Mother (Ragtime), Mrs Fox (Dad's Army - What a Song and Dance), Astrologer (Sunset Boulevard) and Ida (Honk). Trudi has been heard on radio and television providing the vocal soundtracks for advertisements and worked with metal artist EFA on her single 'Nunnery' and the writers DeLise/Johnson on a song for the Eurovision Song Contest. Trudi also performs cabaret with The Diva List and had her own one-woman sell out show, ‘A Little bit of TLC’ at Jermyn St Theatre (London). Trudi has also appeared in several television commercials, including this one (below) for Amazon's Alexia that screened in homes across Europe and the US and Canada. Trudi returned to Australia in 2021, and in 2023 joined the staff at MSJ as Performing Arts and Music Coordinator.