Deborah Cheetham
Encyclopedia
Deborah Joy Cheetham is an Australia
n Aboriginal soprano, actor, composer and playwright.
Cheetham is a member of the Stolen Generations; she was taken from her mother when she was three weeks old and was raised by a white baptist family. Jimmy Little
is her uncle. Cheetham graduated from the NSW Conservatorium of Music
with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree.
In 1997 Cheetham wrote the autobiographical play White Baptist Abba Fan which tells of her experiences of coming to terms with her sexuality and racial identity whilst trying to reunite with her Aboriginal family. White Baptist Abba Fan has toured internationally.
As a soprano Cheetham has performed internationally in France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand She sang the for the opening ceremony of the 2003 Rugby World Cup
and performed at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games.
In October 2010, Cheetham’s opera Pecan Summer
, based on the Cummeragunja walk-off
, opened in Mooroopna, near Shepparton. She wrote, composed and performed in the production by the Short Black Opera Company.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Aboriginal soprano, actor, composer and playwright.
Cheetham is a member of the Stolen Generations; she was taken from her mother when she was three weeks old and was raised by a white baptist family. Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little AO , is an Australian Aboriginal musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist, whose career has spanned six decades. For many years he was the only Aboriginal star on the Australian music scene...
is her uncle. Cheetham graduated from the NSW Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree.
In 1997 Cheetham wrote the autobiographical play White Baptist Abba Fan which tells of her experiences of coming to terms with her sexuality and racial identity whilst trying to reunite with her Aboriginal family. White Baptist Abba Fan has toured internationally.
As a soprano Cheetham has performed internationally in France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand She sang the for the opening ceremony of the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
and performed at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games.
In October 2010, Cheetham’s opera Pecan Summer
Pecan Summer
Pecan Summer is an opera written and composed by the Indigenous Australian singer Deborah Cheetham, who also sang in the premiere season. It was orchestrated by Jessica Wells. It is the first opera written by an indigenous Australian and involving an indigenous cast...
, based on the Cummeragunja walk-off
Cummeragunja walk-off
The Cummeragunja walk-off in 1939 was a protest by Australian Aboriginal people at the Cummeragunja Mission in southern New South Wales.-Background:...
, opened in Mooroopna, near Shepparton. She wrote, composed and performed in the production by the Short Black Opera Company.