Emma Gilkison - Soloist (Knoxville) & Trio Soprano (Trouble in Tahiti)

Emma is an English-born Soprano, residing in South Canterbury, and regularly engaged to perform at concerts around the region.

Emma has been singing since the age of ten after a compulsory audition for The Wizard of Oz at school. She gained her A.T.C.L. Diploma in Singing with Distinction in 2017, studying under the expert guidance of Margot Button.

Emma is a current member of the New Zealand Opera Chorus, and is a former member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and also its Chamber Choir. At school, Emma was a prizewinner in The National Chamber Music for Schools Competition as part of a trio performing Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock.

Emma has performed extensively in the United Kingdom in various musical forms including opera, operetta and musical theatre. Her roles include Belinda/First Witch/First Lady (Dido and Aeneas, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), and Phoebe (Iolanthe).

Emma’s most recent performances in New Zealand include Featured Soloist in Born Free – The Oscar Winners, the role of Mother Superior in Sister Act (Variety Theatre Ashburton), Sister Dolcina/Lucia in Suor Angelica and Elegies (Toi Toi Opera), Ensemble in Tosca (NZ Opera), Featured Soloist in Showstoppers 2, Backing Vocalist in Mamma Mia, Aristocrat/Ensemble in Evita, and Nun/Ensemble in The Sound of Music (South Canterbury Drama League).

Soprano soloist work in both countries includes: Mozart – Exsultate Jubilate, Requiem, Solemn Vespers; Haydn – The Creation; Bach – Magnificat; Vivaldi – Gloria; Handel – The Messiah, Dixit Dominus; Faure – Requiem.

Emma is very excited to be joining Toi Toi Opera again, and thanks the Creative Team and Trustees for providing further artistic opportunities for singers and actors in Canterbury.