BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
A music degree can be an intense – and intensely rewarding – life experience.
It doesn’t matter how old we are, or what discipline we choose to study. When we make the decision to learn about our art at an academic level, we are stepping toward a future dedicated to our passion. And that’s why it’s important to make the most of it while we can, before we venture into the professional world.
In this new series, we learn about what happens to musicians after they graduate from university. Through these interviews, we’ll explore how some of our generation’s leading talent have taken the knowledge they obtained at uni, and applied it into their careers.
You’ll read about the biggest challenges they faced during their studies, their confidence, and their big breaks.
Each one of these artists has graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium, and now reflects on how far they’ve come since their first day of study. In this interview, we chat with Luke Stoker, operatic bass.
Thanks for taking part in our chat! Tell us all about your musical life and career.
I am an operatic bass, based in Germany. I started professionally in 2011 with the Young and Developing Artist Program at Opera Queensland, alongside my studies at the Queensland Conservatorium. From there, I went on to work in the extra chorus with Opera Australia and, later, as a guest artist at West Australian Opera.
In 2013, I was awarded the German Opera Scholarship through the Opera Foundation for Young Australians, which granted me a position in the Opera Studio at Oper Köln. I have been in Germany now for five years, working full-time in Cologne and then Dortmund.
I made my debuts at the Opéra national de Paris and at the Oper im Steinbruch festival in 2017; and I will make my debut at the Wiener Volksoper in 2019.
My repertoire consists of the principal bass repertoire, including roles such as Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Gremin (Eugene Onegin), Sparafucile (Rigoletto) and Mephistopheles (Faust).
Before we move forward, let’s talk about how you’ve arrived at these incredible, international places. What did you study at university and why did you want to enrol in this area?
I ended up in music by accident, although music was always a large part of my life. I was studying Science at the Univeristy of Queensland, when I began singing lessons with Joseph Ward OBE. He inspired me to change my focus and embark on a career in opera.
I completed my Bachelor of Music at the University of Queensland in 2009, and my Master of Music Studies at the Queensland Conservatorium in 2012.
How did you find your academic experience?
I studied a number of things after school including Policing, Science, Arts, and finally Music. My goal was to move into Vet Science, but music crossed my path and I enjoyed it so much that I stayed where I was.
What were some of the most important lessons you picked up while you were a student that were not academic?
I learnt professionalism from a number of my teachers, which has been invaluable to me in Germany. It is vital as a young singer to be dependable, professional, and respectful.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of pitfalls along the way; however, my teachers at the Queensland Conservatorium prepared me for these, and I would like to think I have navigated them as well as I could.
How did studying music at uni help increase your confidence as an emerging young artist?
My university study provided me with a solid foundation from which I can work quickly to learn new roles. It is important to be able to learn quickly in Germany, as some job offers come at very short notice.
I also studied a number of roles at university in preparation for the future. I have been able to call on some of this work over the past five years, to reduce my preparation time.
Tell us about how you navigated the world of music after your graduation. Did you have a “big break” or was it a slow burn?
The most important thing for me after university was experience and time on stage. Working in the extra chorus in Sydney gave me a much-needed boost, and landing a position in the opera studio in Cologne was invaluable to my career.
How have you used the networks obtained through your degree, and how do you work to maintain these relationships?
The music world is smaller than you think. Singers and instrumentalists all over the world are often connected by mutual friends or colleagues. Maintaining these relationships can mean the difference between getting a job offer or not, as friends and associates often speak of their experiences with other performers. This can sometimes turn into an unofficial recommendation or condemnation.
In what ways do you continue to use the knowledge or skills you achieved during your studies, now that you’re well into your career?
I use the knowledge learned at university every day. Again, the study of role preparation alongside languages and movement helps me work efficiently and productively when I am under time stress.
What words of advice would you offer to young musicians along their academic journey?
You need to go above and beyond the tasks you are offered at university. Learning how to teach and guide yourself is invaluable as a professional musician.
Learn from your teachers how to analyse your own work so that you can continue to develop without constant assistance from other people. In the professional world, people often don’t have time to give you feedback, so you need to give it to yourself and learn from it.
We’re excited to collaborate with Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University to shed light on life after university for those studying music. Stay tuned for our next interview!
READ NEXT: Life after uni: Shubshri Kandiah, musical theatre
Images supplied.
