Education

Tanya Sparke

Born 4th June 1962, Newcastle

2001- Bachelor of Music (Composition), Newcastle University
1984 Post Gradate Diploma in Painting, Sydney College of the Arts 1980-83 Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts), Newcastle College of Advanced

Education

2017/18/19/10/22/22/23/24
Musical Director- MouthTrap. Musical

Director for Sing City. Sydney City Council Choir.

Choirs. Yrs 7&8. Yrs 9&10 NHSPA
2016 Musical Director for Newtown Highschool of the Performing Arts

Elite Choirs.

2016 Musical Director for Another Roadside Attraction Choir with performance at The National Folk Festival. Belvoir St in The

Events with Catherine McClements and Luke Byrne.

Musician in Residence. Bundanon. July/August

Solo performance at Kinetic Jazz Festival,Sydney
Choirs at Legal Aid Sydney and The City of Sydney Council.

Workshops with Leadership Australia, Benevolent Society. 2014/13/12 The Singing Club. Museum of Contemporary Art, 2012 Musical Director. Cicada children’s choir.
2012 Social Leadership Australia choral workshops with The Benevolent Society, Catholic Care, St Georges Housing,The Smith

Family.
2011 Carriageworks Childrens Festival leading workshops and massed

choirs. Musician in Residence. Bundanon.
2011 In and Out of Newcastle. Damien Minton Gallery.Redfern 2011/12 Singing Tutor - Playschool ABC
2006-2010 Vocal Tutor and A cappella teacher ,St Catherine’s School for

Girls. Waverley.
2008 Awarded Australia Council Grant for Recording.
2008 Birdship. Solo exhibition. Damien Minton Gallery.
2008-2012 Choral consultant for Voices from the Vacant Lot Choir. 2005-2012 Musical Director for ‘Another Roadside Attraction’ (a cappella choir)
2007/8 Various gigs at The Sound Lounge. Seymour Centre 1995-2006 Singing tutor and A cappella teacher, St Catherine’s School for

Girls, Waverley

2005 Soloist for CD launch of Peter Dasent’s Musical Encyclopaedia, The Basement, Sydney

2002 Soloist in Testimony – The Legend of Charlie Parker, with the Australian Art Orchestra, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Concert Hall

1995-2001 A cappella teacher for various community groups, Australia-wide 1998 Support for Tim and Neil Finn, Metro, Sydney
1998 Musical/Artistic Director of A Choral Sea, Massed Choir Sydney

Town Hall
1997 Awarded Australia Council Grant for Recording.
1997 Conductor, A Choral Sea, Sydney Town Hall
1986-96 Assistant Musical Director, Café of the Gate of Salvation (choir)

Recording History

2008/10/22 2nd C.D Uncomfortable Little Adjectives.
1999 Testimony – The Legend of Charlie Parker (by Sandy Evans for

the ABC
1998 Darkwood Road for Isobel (by Tanya Sparke for Jane Campion,

Portrait of a Lady)
1998 Sacred Sound (by Tim Finn for Tim Finn and the Dalai Lama) 1997 Darkwood Road (by Tanya Sparke)
1997 Demo for Chrysalis Music London with Nigel Grange (Sinead

O’Connor)
1996 The Sweetest Sound (by Tanya Sparke for Jane Campion, Sweetie)

Tanya Sparke’s remarkable voice and songs are beyond the usual, they are a window into an intimacy hidden in shoeboxes and discussed with redheaded barmaids. A history of love as never told before, a history of life familiar but rarely told with such poetry.

After a lifetime in music Tanya’s skill and class as a singer and composer is a rarity not to be missed.

“Listening to her is a totally original experience. Treasured, deep, intoxicating”
Jane Campion (film maker/writer)

Her originality, her depth of heart and her incredible voice defy the ordinary. Her poetry and music create some of the best songs written in this country.

“Of the vocal soloists, Sparke’s
gut-wrenching Camarillo pt 2 which ended the first half was a showstopper”.(From Testimony .The Legend of Charlie Parker.

Sydney Opera House.)Hilary Shrubb

Sydney Morning Herald