ROSALIND KEENE

Soprano Rosalind Keene was born in 1931 in Rockdale NSW. She received her first singing lessons at the age of five from her mother, and then she studied the piano; she gained her L.MusA. diploma at the Sydney Conservatorium at the age of 17. Ros was a soloist when her school (St. George's Girl's High School) sang at the Sydney Town Hall for one of the first ''Combined School Choirs'' concerts. At 16 she was singing in the chorus of the Rockdale Municipal Opera Company and for eight years she was the pianist for the Rockdale Musical Society. Forsaking the piano Ros concentrated on her singing. During the 1950s she went on a five-week concert party tour of Japan and Korea with the Al Thomas Concert Party, plus she was featured in the Education Department's film Music in Our Schools an Australian documentary directed by Ken G. Hall. In 1958 she sang "Concerto for Coloratura Soprano" Op. 82''. at the Sydney Town Hall with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

In 1959 Keene won the vocal section of the ABC's Concerto and Vocal competition held in NSW which marked the beginning of many important engagements for the soprano. In 1962 she played the important and difficult role of ''Zerbinetto'' at the Elizabethan Theatre Trusts opera production of Ariadne Auf Naxos. In 1963 she conducted a tour of QLD with the QLD Symphony Orchestra, and she made appearances on TV whilst in Brisbane. Her other appearances on TV included leading roles in ABC opera productions of Prima Donna, Rita, Don Pasquale, The Marriage Of Figaro and The Pearl Fishers. She was also a soloist in many ABC Celebrity Concerts and sung under world renowned conductors Charles McKerras, Tibor Paul, Joesph Post and Dean Dixon. In 1966 saw her once again touring with the Elizabethan Theatre Trust Opera Co. as part of the regular ensemble, a position she held permanently. 

Ros was a regular performer on Bobby Limb's Sound Of Music, Australia's first national television show, which ran for nine years 1963–1972, being the country's top-rated show for most of that time. Ros can be heard on the show's four album releases, and she can be seen on the show's YouTube clips. Keene herself recorded a number of albums during the sixties duetting with former Tivoli singer Neil Williams mainly focusing on stage musicals. Rosalind Keene died in 1999. 

SINGLES

''One Night Of Love / Spring In My Heart'' 1968 Festival

ALBUMS

'Rio Rita / The Great Waltz' [with Neil Williams] 1963 World Record Club
'The Great Victor Herbert' [with Neil Williams] 1963 World Record Club
'Brigadoon - Finian's Rainbow' [with Neil Williams] 1963 World Record Club

'Tribute to Three Greats: Rosalind Keene Sings Songs By Grace Moore, Deanna Durbin, and Gladys Moncrieff' 1968 Festival
'The Nun's Chorus And Other Songs Of Faith' 1968 Festival
'A Christmas At The Opera House' [with Neil Williams and Roger Bush] 1977 EMI
' 20 Duet & Solo Favourites' [with Bill Newman] 1977 Dyna House
'Memories of Jeanette MacDonald' Festival