about

Teresa’s two career trajectory in performance and education is best described as the work of a Teaching Artist. As a Teaching Artist, she brings together her extensive experience as a performing artist and educator to utilise her creativity for social change to teach meaning as much as method and to harness her voice in a larger context.

As well as regularly performing as a singer and actor, Teresa currently delivers music programs in disadvantaged schools through The Song Room, leads a number of choirs, and teaches private voice lessons.

Teresa’s creative pursuits have centred around her passion for story-telling which led her to commence the Elizabeth Chong: A Recipe for Living project to collect and preserve her family history through documentary film. Being the granddaughter of acclaimed television celebrity chef Elizabeth Chong, Teresa has harnessed this intimate viewpoint to create and direct a documentary film celebrating Elizabeth’s contribution to the food industry in Australia and exploring her connection between East and West.

For performance enquiries, please contact Mark Gogoll Enterprises. Alternatively you can connect Teresa at duddy.teresa@gmail.com.

teaching artist

Teaching Artist is a term not yet commonly used in Australia. It refers to a performer who works professionally both in the field of performance, or artistry, and professionally as a teacher educating students on the art form. They are skilled at bringing people from outside the arts to inside the arts to create, experience, and acknowledge one's own abilities. Teresa is currently completing her Masters of Teaching at Deakin University with a major in Inclusive education, she seeks to continue creating educationally rich learning environments in diverse settings with diverse learner communities.

Throughout her performing career Teresa has shown a commitment to connecting people through the arts and music in her teaching work within the school sector, privately with voice lessons and through community outreach such as community choirs.  With a passion for education and strongly held values in community, collaboration, and social equity Teresa joined the not for profit Arts organisation The Song Room as a Teaching Artist in 2016.

training and performances

Teresa began her training in classical vocal performance from a young age when she attended the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in Melbourne, Australia.  Teresa continued her studies at the University of Melbourne on a full Faculty Merit Scholarship completing her Bachelor of Music and Diploma of Arts studying vocal performance under Merlyn Quaife. During her undergraduate studies she spent six months on exchange at the Chicago College of Performing Arts and returned there to undertake her Masters of Vocal performance studying under Judith Haddon (Metropolitan Opera).  Whilst living in the USA Teresa worked with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra chorus for two years under the baton of conductors including Riccardo Muti and Pierre Boulez. After completing her masters on scholarship Teresa worked with the Chicago Lyric Opera performing the role of Clorinda in their touring schools production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola. Upon completion of her studies Teresa trained and performed in Weimar Germany at the Lyric Opera Studio of Weimar performing the role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, and training at the London Masterclasses held at the Royal College of Music on a scholarship from the Tait Memorial Trust.

Since returning to Australia in 2012 Teresa’s performances have included Cindy and Wendy in Contact! (as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival), Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly,  Naomi in Cinderella with Gertrude Opera and Lady Thiang (cover) and ensemble member in Opera Australia/GFO’s production of The King and I, which toured nationally in 2014. She has performed at MOFO Festival in Tasmania performing the work of UK composer Mira Calix, and toured the role of Sharon in Master Class with Left Bauer Productions. Roles with Victorian Opera included Rose (understudy) in What Next?, Cathy in Little Deaths, Madame Mao (understudy) and a chorus member in Nixon in China,  a member of the dance ensemble in Maria de Beunos Aires and ensemble member in Sweeney Todd.

Teresa was the 2012 winner of the Warrnambool Eisteddfod Aria Competition, semi finalist for the German Australia Opera Grant, finalist for the Acclaim Awards, and Finalist for the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic. She is also a grant recipient from the Tait Memorial Trust, Opus 50, and the Opera and Arts Support Group.

Since completing her formal voice training Teresa has enjoyed performance opportunities in Opera, Music Theatre, Cabaret, Experimental theatre, Oratorio and recital settings. She has also worked as a featured actor in television commercials and theatre, performing as Carmilla in Adam Yee’s vampire gothic tale performed at Melbourne’s iconic La Mama theatre.