Emily Burke grew up in Tasmania. She is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and has also studied language and voice at the Milan Conservatory. Whilst in Italy, she performed in concerts with the Milan Conservatory Chorale and the International School in Varese. In 2006, she was a runner-up in the ABC TV series Operatunity Oz. This subsequently led to her singing the role of Gilda in a special performance of Opera Australia’s production of Rigoletto at the Sydney Opera House (which received a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Live Event).

Emily has performed extensively on the concert platform. Her engagements include appearing with the Melbourne Symphony in the Summer Symphony series of concerts (at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl under the baton of Oleg Caetani), performing as a guest soloist with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic (at St Paul’s Cathedral), and appearing with the Adelaide Art Orchestra and Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. Other engagements include appearing in The Pavarotti Story (for Melbourne City Opera) as well as performing at Opera Australia’s 50th Birthday Celebrations (at Cruden Farm),

Anglicare’s annual fundraising lunch (at Adelaide Town Hall), the ACT Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards and the National Gallery of Australia’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Her recordings include the Operatunity Oz CD (ABC Classics) and singing on Roy Best’s album Heart’s Delight (with The Queensland Orchestra). In 2007, Emily was invited to compete in the Stanislaw Moniuszko Vocal Competition in Warsaw (Poland).

As a member of Opera Queensland’s 2008 Young Artist Program, Emily understudied the roles of First Lady and First Spirit in The Magic Flute and performed in the chorus of the same production. In the same year, she was named an Australia Day Ambassador, and travelled to Italy to attend a masterclass conducted by internationally renowned soprano, Mirella Freni.

Most recently, Emily performed at Opera Queensland’s inaugural Sunset Opera.

Upcoming engagements include performing in the chorus of La traviata and understudying the roles of Marzelline in Fidelio and of Gilda in Rigoletto (for Opera Queensland).

Later this year, Emily will return to Italy to perform (as the winner of the Puccini Foundation Award in 2008), before travelling to the US to audition for San Francisco Opera’s prestigious Merola Opera Program. Presently, Emily studies voice with Yvonne Kenny and Rosamund Illing.