“one of the doyen of Australian art song performers”
Alan Holley, Classikon, 2020
LATEST NEWS - Towards an Australian Art Song Resource
Jenny Duck-Chong is a highly skilled interpreter, generous teacher and lifelong learner. As a performer, artistic director and educator she has forged a career by delving into the corners of her art form. She dusts off the rarely heard, rediscovers lost gems, juxtaposes pieces in surprising ways, and breathes life into new works, encouraging audiences and students alike to listen to music with fresh ears.
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE WORK
The world of a freelance singer, especially one who chooses not specialise in operatic repertoire, is always a rich and varied adventure. Over the years I’ve sung some extraordinary works with some amazing people ranging across many centuries, but there is always more to find and share with audiences. Beginning my training in early music and art song, I have never been content to stay in the safe realm of mainstream repertoire, (though I enjoy visiting it regularly). I love the thrill of discovering rarely heard pieces or commissioning new works and then crafting programs to introduce them to new audiences, presenting solo and chamber recitals in public venues and private homes and working alongside like-minded artists to make music come alive for audiences.
Though I have enjoyed time on bigger stages, working in music on the small scale has always been my passion, whether in recital, in vocal ensemble or in chamber music. The intimacy of the music-making, the immediacy of communication and the elasticity of adapting to ever-changing soundworlds around me is at the heart of my work.
For bookings contact me on jenny@jennydc.com
HALCYON
In my role as artistic director of the acclaimed ensemble Halcyon I have dedicated more than two decades to commissioning, recording and performing excellent new music for voice and chamber ensemble, and continue to collaborate and connect with its community of musicians, composers, patrons and friends. You can find more about Halcyon - performances, recordings, YouTube channel, other resources and more - by clicking on the links.
HOUSE CONCERTS
Alongside public performances, I am now developing a series of private house concerts with Halcyon, Flametree and other collaborators. This is a fantastic way to intimately connect with audiences and to entertain and share music on the smallest scale in a relaxed and informal setting.
If you are interested in hosting an event or would just like to know more, please get in touch.
TEACHING
As a developing singer, I was trained to weigh the ideas of both poet and composer in crafting an expressive interpretation. This has always been central to my practice. Equally, helping singers and composers to discover how to better express themselves - to communicate their own expressive intentions clearly - is central to my teaching work.
As an educator and mentor, in seminars, masterclasses and interactive workshops I have shared insights with students and teachers of music, composition and voice across school and tertiary levels on such topics as contemporary vocal repertoire, Australian vocal writing, the role of the singer as a chamber musician and a performer’s perspective on writing for voice. I seek to equip and build the skills of a new generation of singers and composers to enable them to listen, articulate and express their ideas to their fullest capacity and to connect a wider audience with the work of living composers. I am currently a tutor in the Composition Department at the Sydney Conservatorium, working with student performers and composers in developing collaborative projects . I created Halcyon’s In Conversation With…. series, a playlist of bite-sized interview clips where the composers themselves give insights into their work and their vocal writing, as another means for people to learn more about Australian composers and their work.
I run and present workshops for composers and offer one-to-one coaching for composers on vocal writing techniques and analysis of their own material. In addition, I run a private singing studio primarily for classical voice students where I develop the technical and communicative skills of singing students of varied experience - honing language, stylistic elements and performance skills to help improve overall interpretation, enjoyment and technical ability and to refine specific repertoire. Read more about these activities here.