A MANY FEATHERED BIRD ...
The artistic moniker The Forest Weaver comes from a mustard-tummied songbird of South African indigenous forests. It is known for singing crystal clear, piercingly high notes that stand out above the usual orchestra of birdsong, despite its small stature.​
Emma holds two opera degrees from Rhodes University with Distinction in Music. Both were completed at Rhodes University South Africa, under the bel canto training of Miss Jo-Nette Le Kay. Reaching Fulbright semi-finals, Emma received ten music scholarships & several awards including a SAMRO Bursary & Rhodes-Investec Top100 Award.
She staged two successful shows at the Grahamstown/Makhanda National Arts Festival: Opera Found (2017 – Standard Bank Encore Ovation Award) & A Feather on the Breath of God (2018 – Arena Production). The latter showcased the works of ten female WAM composers, spanning seven hundred years of music history. Upon graduating, she had sung the full & partial roles of Soprano for Faurè Requiem, Alcina, Adele, Despina, Susanna, Lakmé, Cleopatra and Olympia.
After graduating, 2019 saw her produce / participate in ten concerts with notable South African musicians like James Grace, Christopher Duigan, Lara Kirsten, Ilse Myburgh, David Orr & Nigel Fish. She was also cast by PAMS as Soprano in Handel’s Messiah, under the baton of Botes Gresse.
Predominantly coaching voices in the time of COVID-19, she also curated several digital performances, most notably Herstory - a twice ConcertsSA-sponsored eConcert-documentary on Female WAM Composers. She was honoured to perform for Alliance Francaise French week & at Her Late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations at The Royal Show 2022, with the KZN Youth Orchestra. Emigrating to Ireland in 2023, she is completing a part-time, online MA in Music & Digital Humanities with The Open University UK; her Dissertation centering on female operatic composers.
In February 2024, she entered three Newpark Academy of Music Competitions, where she received Certificates of Very/High Commendation , & tied for 3rd place for Baroque aria. In March, she won the Féile Luimnigh Corn Mhichíl Ó Ceallacháin Operatic Solo, & by year's end had competed as a Quarter-Finalist in the Ebe Stignani International Singing Competition; staged a Lunch Hour Concert & a Council-sponsored Musicoetry Event; & was selected to sing with Sestina Music in their Next Generation Mentoring Programme Stage 1.
2025 centers on completing her Masters in Music Dissertation, but she has found time to participate at a Chorus ''Sing-at'' event at the Royal Opera & Ballet, & compete in Ireland's prestigious Feis Ceoil : where she won The German Government Cup, 2nd place for Plunket Greene Cup, and one of nine coveted seats in the Gerwase Elwes Memorial finals. She continues to coach, compete, audition for opera companies & perform, whilst remotely furthering her Soprano development with her supervisor of seven years, Margaret Bowen.
PERFORMANCE REVIEWS
14th-15th June, 2025
Feis Ceoil 2025:
Winner of The German Government Cup
2nd place for The Plunket Greene Cup
Gerwase Elwes Memorial Prize finalist.
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Adjudicator said of my Art Song selection ''A vibrant voice, steady tempo, with lovely choice of dynamics [...] you own the markings and interpretation''.
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Adjudicator said of my Bach aria ''A lovely voice, consistent through the registers''.
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Adjudicator said of my finals recital ''Such a poised performance, with an impressive diminuendo as the Countess!''
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Audience Member said of my finals recital ''I don't often remark on singers to their face, but I must tell you that your voice and performance was seamless - creamy, like Kerry Gold butter!''
Adjudicator Amanda Roocroft & Audience Member
May, 2024
At the Irish National Opera - TUD Conservatoire Répétiteur Workshop, I was complimented on my brave choices, my emotional responsiveness to both lied/tonadilla and arias, and my powerful top notes.
INO-TUD Coaches / Director
November, 2019
"Top-class soloists [...] the PAMS Messiah was highly inspirational & uplifting [...] while someone could not say enough about soprano Emma Farquharson's angelic sweet voice"
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The Maritzburg Sun
October 31st, 2024
Every few years, a singer is lucky enough to be approached with a performance request that powerfully reminds them why they stepped onto the path in the first place. Such was the case with the Sawhain Musicoetry Gig that I was asked to curate at Quay Books Limerick, sponsored by Limerick City and County Council (Night Time Economy Sponsorship).
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Birdcall, hand chimes, poetry, aria, art & folk song all came together to tell a haunting tale of what it means to be a transnational subject.
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Audience members said:
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''You were hypnotic. I couldn't stop watching you, and I didn't want it to end!''
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''Where your South Africanness ends and your Irishness begins ... That's a very interesting conversation to be having with yourself and with us.''
Quay Books Audience Members
March 1st, 2024
I competed in the Féile Luimnigh Corn Mhichíl Ó Ceallacháin For Operatic Solo. I was pleased to win the Competition, adjudicated by stellar Irish Soprano, Colette Delahunt:
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Ritorna Vincitor - "some wonderful work on your Italian, and you are giving us such a palette of colours ... you made some very impressive transitions in vocal tone and emotional impact. You are totally invested in this character and her motivations ... An excellent performance, technically and artistically".
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Colette Delahunt, Féile Luimnigh
May 28, 2019
"Farquharson's performances never fail to impress, & for a woman of such small stature, she has a powerful voice. Her raven hair & dancing green eyes compliment her classic looks" - Advert for An Evening Soiree at Garlington
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Trish Beaver, The Witness
October 8th, 2024
For my Limerick Debut, my pianist Irina Dernova and I staged a Lunch Hour Concert in the Oldest Building in use in Ireland - St Mary's Cathedral.
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In attendance were a school group, who wrote:
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''It was an experience they won't forget''.
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Another audience member complimented my vocal showcase, and also said ''You are such an actress!''
St Mary's Cathedral Audience Members
February 17th, 2024
I competed in the Newpark Academy of Music Festival Competition adjudicated by stellar Irish Soprano, Lynda Lee:
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Porgi Amor - "Very good voice with a strong tone ... Very poised performance, especially in the long intro, not easy!"
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Zueignung & Cäcilie - "You are definitely a Strauss Singer".
Redeemer - "You gave us a truly beautiful opening phrase! ... a wonderful poise, both while singing and just as importantly, when you are not singing. This was your best singing today ... I heard lots of new shading and colours".
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Lynda Lee, Newpark Academy of Music
June, 2018
"for the vocal spectacle in this superlative presentation [...] Farquharson's operatic excellence, accompanied by Caleb Vaughn-Jones on cello and Nina Van Schoor on piano, makes for an auditory treat [...] this Rhodes University music student displayed impeccable vocal technique - control that completely mesmerized the audience. A Feather ... Review, Weekend Post
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Sboniso Thombeni, Weekend Post
May 28, 2018
"Anyone with an appreciation of music will love the emotive and talented performance of Emma Farquharson. She is striking on stage and has a voice that is hauntingly beautiful".
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Mad about the Midlands blog
September, 2017
"Her stunning voice was instantly mesmerising as she began to sing"​ - Opera Found Review
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Jon Houzet, Talk of The Town
July 14, 2017
"Lucky people who get to hear a rising star just as she's reaching out to grab the sparkle [...]​ Showing not the slightest sign of stage fright and oozing confidence Emma sang faultlessly ... this young lady will go far in her chosen operatic career" - Opera Found NAF Review
Peter Grist, The Announcer