WOODBRIDGE House is again the venue for the Summer Gala Soiree on Sunday, January 26.

This year the beneficiary has been changed to benefit talented and hardworking WAAPA students through the Friends of the Academy committee via grants for showreels, secondments and so on.

The line up of Western Australian talent includes musical director Alessandro Pittorino, accompanist Caroline Badnell, artists Eimear Foley and Devon Lake (returning from last year), Beth Redwood, Lainey O’Sullivan, Brett Peart and Vin Trikeriotis.

The majority are WAAPA alumni, with Devon and Vin fourth year students.

Many of the artists have trained internationally, with Alessandro the only Australian to graduate in organ studies from the Julliard School of Music in New York.

Eimear trained on the other side of the city at New York University and to add to her extensive musical skills, she recently graduated in medicine from the University of Notre Dame.

Lainey studied drama and theatre studies at Trinity College, Dublin.

Prior to studying as a tenor, Vin toured the globe performing in Tempest Rising, a heavy metal band.

The repertoire will be light classical, along with popular music theatre, concluding with a bracket of Australiana favourites.

Emphasising the Australiana theme, the Freeze Frame Opera truck will again be used as a stage.

The concert is family friendly picnic style with BYO blankets, chairs (preferably low), food and drink, with shade for all.

Sam the Coffee Man will be on site again for hot and cold drinks.

The National Trust’s Woodbridge House is nestled between the Swan River, Guildford Grammar and Governor Stirling Senior High School, where there is ample free parking.

Bookings can be made for the concert on www.trybooking.com/CXTCY or visit  www.summer galasoiree.com which has links to all information, including the Australian Cultural Fund website where tax deductible donations can be made to offset the running costs of the concert which will enable all ticket sales to benefit WAAPA students.

For more information contact Di Collins on 0432 538 075 or email info@summergalaso
iree.com