BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Welcome to Con Fuoco, our interview series with emerging artists in Australia.
Josephine Stark is a young soprano currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Music (Classical Vocal Performance) at The University of New South Wales. While studying, she’s performed in the university’s Collegium Musicum Choir, singing Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah among others.
In 2014, Josephine represented Mount Carmel Catholic College in the International Festival of Youth and Music Choral Competition held in Rotorua, New Zealand, placing with silver. In the same year, she was confirmed as the Cantor for the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong.
Josephine has taken an interest in creative projects and recitals around Sydney. She’s performed as a regular guest soloist for Nella Luce Studios recitals, and is also working on her own solo recital Acts of Love – a mini-opera of three acts in 30 minutes.
Josephine will this month co-produce and perform in Mixed Love – an afternoon recital showcasing some of opera’s most beloved arias and famed duets held – in the heart of the Southern Highlands.
Your all-time favourite piece of music?
That has to be one of the hardest questions to answer! I’m always finding pieces that I fall in love with and I say: ‘Yes, this definitely my favourite!’. And then a few months later, I’ll come across something else and that’s become my new favourite.
But I think I’ve always had one piece that’s stayed in the top of my ever-growing list of favourite pieces and that would have to be Mozart’s Requiem; in particular, the Lacrimosa, as it has this ever-growing tension that captures you right up to the final cadence. And you can’t deny Mozart’s incredible voice-leading throughout. It’s a piece that gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it.
Biggest fear when performing?
As a classical singer, I perform a lot of pieces in various languages, and I always worry if I’m pronouncing the words correctly – especially if it’s a language that I’m not confident singing in.
You never know, there could be someone in the audience who speaks that language. And if you pronounce the words incorrectly, they would pick up on it straight away!
Most memorable concert experience?
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to see my first ever Opera Australia production at the Sydney Opera House. It was Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow starring soprano Danielle de Niese; and it was absolutely stunning in its costuming, the singing was superb, and it confirmed that this is something that I would love to be part of one day in my career.
Since then I have become slightly addicted to watching OA productions…that’s OK, right?
How do you psych yourself up for practice on a lazy day?
Like most musicians, some days I don’t feel like practising. Personally, I don’t like forcing practice on myself, especially if I’m tired. So when that happens, I turn to my playlist of current pieces I’m studying and I simply listen to them. I may not be physically practising, but in my head I’m analysing the music, I’m listening to the rhythms, and I ask myself: ‘How is the music conveying the story being told?’. It’s a small thing, but I’ve surprised myself on how much I have gained from simply doing that. It’s quite an effective strategy.
Most embarrassing moment on stage?
Oh dear…
Well, if I had to be honest, there was this one time in seventh grade where I did my first performance during the school assembly, and it was the first time I had ever used a microphone. They had put it on a stand, and before going on stage I was told to bow after my performance. After I finished and people were applauding, I almost forgot to bow, so I suddenly jerked my body forward and whacked my head on the microphone, creating this really loud bang through the entire sound system! I must have whacked my head pretty hard, because for the rest of the day I had the marks from the microphone dented into my forehead.
Lesson learnt from that experience was to make sure you take a step to the side of the microphone before you bow; and I can assure you, it’s been engraved into my head since then!
Best piece of musical advice you’ve received?
‘Don’t force a sound upon you, let it come naturally.’ That’s something my singing teacher has always told me. Sometimes when listening to other singers, you can get caught up in how they sound and you want to try and emulate that in your own voice. But in reality, you can’t force your voice to sound like a developed 30-year-old soprano when you’re only 21.
Post-gig ritual?
I don’t think anything is more satisfying than taking off your make-up, undoing your hair, all whilst drinking a nice warm cup of tea. It allows time for me to reflect on my performance and unwind, knowing that all the hard work I had put into that performance had paid off.
What are you most proud of in your musical career so far?
Perseverance. As a performer, you always encounter setbacks that will challenge you and your capabilities. There have been times when I’ve been close to giving up, but pushing through those moments allows you to grow as a musician. I’ve definitely found my strength and weaknesses during those times, and it’s that which drives me to continue to pursue what I love doing.
What do you love about making music?
Singing for me is a passion. I feel so honoured to have been granted the opportunity to do what I love in life, and that’s to create music for others to hear. There’s not really a way to describe the feeling you receive after finishing a performance and the audience is there applauding. Those hours of rehearsing, training; it’s all put together into that moment and it’s really rewarding.
What’s your ultimate goal?
As I am still young, I’m still studying; there is so much that I have not yet done. I think having small goals that lead to one big goal is a good way to achieve the ‘dream’.
My ultimate goal is to have the opportunity to perform a lead role in an opera with a major opera company. That may change, but where I am now is only the beginning of a big journey. And I’m really excited to see where the next steps in my musical journey will take me.
Watch Josephine Stark perform in Mixed Love under the direction of Company of Rogues’ Goldene Rayment, 2.30pm May 26 in the Bowral Kangaloon Uniting Church.
Image supplied.
