Grace Bawden
Encyclopedia
Grace Bawden is an Australia
n classical crossover
singer, who has been dubbed "Australia's greatest operatic discovery", after becoming the Judge's Choice Grand Finalist on the TV talent show Australia's Got Talent
in 2008. Despite an offer of contract by a major label, she remains an independent artist.
, Australia with her mother, Matilda Bawden and brother, Luke Bawden. Bawden's voice was first noticed by her mother, who said that at age 2 she would mimic sounds and at age 3, she could sing nursery rhymes better than any other child she had heard. Matilda attempted to get her singing lessons when Bawden was three years old, but teachers considered her too young. Three years later, Bawden's mother found her mimicking an Italian opera
playing on radio after mistaking her for someone singing on the television. Matilda attempted to find her daughter lessons again and Bawden began her training at a local music store at six years old. She went to Thomas More College.
In 2006, Grace performed in front of an audience of 30,000 at the Advertiser-Adelaide City Council, Carols by Candlelight. .
In mid 2007, at age 14, Grace came to the attention of Entertainment Editor, Richard Wilkins, and was invited to sing live on the national Channel 9, Today Show.
In February 2007, Bawden co-wrote two tracks and recorded material with multi-award winning producer and songwriter Audius Mtawirira, who has also worked with artists such as Delta Goodrem
, Guy Sebastian
and Paulini.
Around this time, Bawden decided to audition for 2008's Australia's Got Talent
(AGT) and began to busk around Adelaide to gain confidence.
In December 2007, Grace was invited by former Australian Idol Judge, Mark Holden
, to do an interview on live 5AA radio. After singing a Christmas Carol, one of South Australia's most prominent businessmen phoned in to offer to become her first major investor. Soon after, Grace Bawden Promotions Pty Ltd was formed, with the support of many other investors.
She entered AGT in February 2008 and the judges unanimously put her through to the next round after receiving a standing ovation for her rendition of O Mio Babbino Caro
. In the semi-finals of the competition she was named the Judge's Choice after performing "Ebben? Ne andrò lontana" from La Wally
to go through to the Grand Final. In the Grand Final, Bawden performed The Flower Duet
to which she made up her own English lyrics, by request from one judge that she sing something in English. Bawden was in the second pair of contestants that were voted off, making Top 6.
After the show, Bawden recorded her debut album and was signed to celebrity Manager, Max Markson
and began negotiations with a major label. Despite an offer of a contract, Grace Bawden Promotions eventually released a six track EP independently after a loss of confidence in the company.
In 2008, Bawden appeared at the South Australian National Football League Grand Final, in front of a crowd of over 40,000.
Her debut album Gifts of Grace was released in September 2009.
In September 2010, Bawden travelled to London and Italy where she auditioned for opera schools, including one run by Mirella Freni
, the Centro Universale del Bel Canto (CUBEC) and La Scuola Dell' Opera Italiana (SOI) in Bologna. Bawden was ranked "fit for entry" to CUBEC, but due to her young age missed out on a scholarship. Despite her age, she was subsequently accepted for private tuition with SOI.
's "Dear God", Bruce Springsteen
's "Streets of Philadelphia
", Barbra Streisand
's "People", Kansas
's "Dust in the Wind
" and Paul McCartney
's and John Lennon
's "Long and Winding Road".
In early 2009, Grace was introduced to Los Angeles, Animation and Film Score Composer, Gregory Hinde
by Krystine McLeod to co-write "Angel Will Watch", which was included on "Gifts of Grace".
Grace's debut single, Iva Davies
's "Man of Colours", and film clip received his blessing and was aired on national television program, Rage
on 4 September 2009.
Track listing:
Track listing:
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 classical crossover
Crossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
singer, who has been dubbed "Australia's greatest operatic discovery", after becoming the Judge's Choice Grand Finalist on the TV talent show Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent is an Australian reality television talent show which premiered on 18 February 2007 on the Seven Network. The show was based on the Got Talent series format that originated in the United Kingdom with Simon Cowell...
in 2008. Despite an offer of contract by a major label, she remains an independent artist.
Background
Bawden grew up in AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Australia with her mother, Matilda Bawden and brother, Luke Bawden. Bawden's voice was first noticed by her mother, who said that at age 2 she would mimic sounds and at age 3, she could sing nursery rhymes better than any other child she had heard. Matilda attempted to get her singing lessons when Bawden was three years old, but teachers considered her too young. Three years later, Bawden's mother found her mimicking an Italian opera
Italian opera
Italian opera is both the art of opera in Italy and opera in the Italian language. Opera was born in Italy around the year 1600 and Italian opera has continued to play a dominant role in the history of the form until the present day. Many famous operas in Italian were written by foreign composers,...
playing on radio after mistaking her for someone singing on the television. Matilda attempted to find her daughter lessons again and Bawden began her training at a local music store at six years old. She went to Thomas More College.
Career
Bawden started to enter and win various singing competitions between the ages of 10 and 14, throughout South Australia and started to attract attention.In 2006, Grace performed in front of an audience of 30,000 at the Advertiser-Adelaide City Council, Carols by Candlelight. .
In mid 2007, at age 14, Grace came to the attention of Entertainment Editor, Richard Wilkins, and was invited to sing live on the national Channel 9, Today Show.
In February 2007, Bawden co-wrote two tracks and recorded material with multi-award winning producer and songwriter Audius Mtawirira, who has also worked with artists such as Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem
Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home...
, Guy Sebastian
Guy Sebastian
Guy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
and Paulini.
Around this time, Bawden decided to audition for 2008's Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent
Australia's Got Talent is an Australian reality television talent show which premiered on 18 February 2007 on the Seven Network. The show was based on the Got Talent series format that originated in the United Kingdom with Simon Cowell...
(AGT) and began to busk around Adelaide to gain confidence.
In December 2007, Grace was invited by former Australian Idol Judge, Mark Holden
Mark Holden
Mark Holden is an Australian singer, television personality and barrister. He was one of a panel of three judges on the television series Australian Idol.-Acting career:...
, to do an interview on live 5AA radio. After singing a Christmas Carol, one of South Australia's most prominent businessmen phoned in to offer to become her first major investor. Soon after, Grace Bawden Promotions Pty Ltd was formed, with the support of many other investors.
She entered AGT in February 2008 and the judges unanimously put her through to the next round after receiving a standing ovation for her rendition of O Mio Babbino Caro
O mio babbino caro
"O mio babbino caro" is a soprano aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi , by Giacomo Puccini, to a libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. It is sung by Lauretta after tensions between her father Schicchi and the family of Rinuccio, the boy she loves, have reached a breaking point that threatens to...
. In the semi-finals of the competition she was named the Judge's Choice after performing "Ebben? Ne andrò lontana" from La Wally
La Wally
La Wally is a four-act opera by Alfredo Catalani, composed on a libretto by Luigi Illica, and first performed at La Scala, Milan on 20 January 1892....
to go through to the Grand Final. In the Grand Final, Bawden performed The Flower Duet
The Flower Duet
The Flower Duet is a famous duet for sopranos from Léo Delibes' opera Lakmé, first performed in Paris in 1883. The duet takes place in Act 1 of the three act opera, between characters Lakmé, the daughter of a Brahmin priest, and her servant Mallika, as they go to gather flowers by a river...
to which she made up her own English lyrics, by request from one judge that she sing something in English. Bawden was in the second pair of contestants that were voted off, making Top 6.
After the show, Bawden recorded her debut album and was signed to celebrity Manager, Max Markson
and began negotiations with a major label. Despite an offer of a contract, Grace Bawden Promotions eventually released a six track EP independently after a loss of confidence in the company.
In 2008, Bawden appeared at the South Australian National Football League Grand Final, in front of a crowd of over 40,000.
Her debut album Gifts of Grace was released in September 2009.
In September 2010, Bawden travelled to London and Italy where she auditioned for opera schools, including one run by Mirella Freni
Mirella Freni
Mirella Freni, birth name Mirella Fregni, is an Italian opera soprano whose repertoire includes Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Tchaikovsky...
, the Centro Universale del Bel Canto (CUBEC) and La Scuola Dell' Opera Italiana (SOI) in Bologna. Bawden was ranked "fit for entry" to CUBEC, but due to her young age missed out on a scholarship. Despite her age, she was subsequently accepted for private tuition with SOI.
Music and Voice
Bawden has been classified as a lyric-coloratura soprano and has a vocal range of over 3½ octaves. Although she became known as an opera singer on Australia's Got Talent, Bawden also sings pop, contemporary, jazz, traditional, musical theatre and arias. Her debut album features cover versions of Midge UreMidge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
's "Dear God", Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's "Streets of Philadelphia
Streets of Philadelphia
"Streets of Philadelphia" is an Oscar winning song, written and performed by American rock musician Bruce Springsteen for the first mainstream film on HIV/AIDS in the 1993 film, Philadelphia...
", Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
's "People", Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
's "Dust in the Wind
Dust in the Wind
"Dust in the Wind" is a song by American progressive rock band Kansas, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas' only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single...
" and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
's and John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's "Long and Winding Road".
In early 2009, Grace was introduced to Los Angeles, Animation and Film Score Composer, Gregory Hinde
Gregory Hinde
Gregory Hinde is an American composer. He has written music for animated television series such as The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Evil Con Carne and worked on the final season of The Wild Thornberrys.-External links:*...
by Krystine McLeod to co-write "Angel Will Watch", which was included on "Gifts of Grace".
Grace's debut single, Iva Davies
Iva Davies
Iva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
's "Man of Colours", and film clip received his blessing and was aired on national television program, Rage
Rage (TV program)
Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...
on 4 September 2009.
Charitable Work
In November 2009, Grace received the "Living Legend Award" for the City of Salisbury in recognition of her long-standing charitable work within her local community, her contribution as a role model for young people and for her accomplishments in the Arts.Additional
In September 2009, Grace featured as a model in the Spring Edition of "My Wedding Magazine".Discography
- Gifts of Grace (2009)
Track listing:
- "Streets of PhiladelphiaStreets of Philadelphia"Streets of Philadelphia" is an Oscar winning song, written and performed by American rock musician Bruce Springsteen for the first mainstream film on HIV/AIDS in the 1993 film, Philadelphia...
" - "Longer"
- "Dear God"
- "Cold Outside" (featuring Soweto Gospel ChoirSoweto Gospel Choir-History:The Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in Soweto, South Africa by David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, two choir directors. The 30+ member ensemble blends elements of African gospel, Negro spirituals, reggae, and American popular music...
) - "Flower DuetThe Flower DuetThe Flower Duet is a famous duet for sopranos from Léo Delibes' opera Lakmé, first performed in Paris in 1883. The duet takes place in Act 1 of the three act opera, between characters Lakmé, the daughter of a Brahmin priest, and her servant Mallika, as they go to gather flowers by a river...
" - "People"
- "Man of Colours"
- "Long and Winding RoadThe Long and Winding Road"The Long and Winding Road" is a ballad written by Paul McCartney that originally appeared on The Beatles' album Let It Be. It became The Beatles' 20th and last number-one song in the United States on 23 May 1970, and was the last single released by the quartet...
" - "Now and Forever"
- "Just BreatheJust Breathe (song)"Just Breathe" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. "Just Breathe" was released on October 31, 2009 as the second single from the band's ninth studio album, Backspacer . The single was released as a double A-side along with the song "Got Some"...
" - "Dust in the WindDust in the Wind"Dust in the Wind" is a song by American progressive rock band Kansas, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas' only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single...
" - "Angels Will Watch"
- "Amazing GraceAmazing Grace"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
"
- Grace Bawden EP (2008)
Track listing:
- "Man of Colours"
- "Dust in the Wind"
- "Streets of Philadelphia"
- "Flower Duet"
- "Long and Winding Road"
- "Dear God"