Dr. Tarita Botsman is a distinguished figure in the world of performing arts, boasting an impressive career spanning over twenty-five remarkable years. Her journey through opera, theatre, writing, and stage direction has solidified her reputation as a versatile artist and visionary.
Tarita’s journey in the performing arts began with her exceptional talent as an opera singer. Over the years, she has breathed life into more than twenty operatic roles, gracing stages across five continents. Some of her notable performances include appearances for Opera Queensland, Opera North, the Barbican Centre in London, and as a soloist with the prestigious LSO and Bayerische Staastoper in Munich from 1994 to 2006. An exceptional moment in her career saw her honored to sing for His Royal Highness Prince Charles during an event for the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London.
Tarita’s educational journey is equally impressive, having graduated from esteemed institutions such as the opera course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, QUT (Drama), and the University of Queensland. Her vocal training in her teen years under Margaret Baker-Genovesi in Rome further refined her exceptional voice, leading her to become the youngest Australian female to make her mainstage operatic debut at the age of 21 with Opera Queensland.
Making her musical theatre debut in 2024, Tarita thrilled audiences in Queensland Theatre’s premiere season its new production, Round the Twist, at Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Earning widespread critical acclaim for her role as Mrs Gribble, StageWhispers wrote: “the top notes of this operatic soprano are both unexpected and jaw dropping”.
Beyond her performances, Tarita’s creative spirit has led her to engage in multiple facets of the performing arts. She has directed numerous high-profile corporate music events on a global scale, showcasing her talent for curating unforgettable experiences. Tarita’s contributions to the arts have been recognized through a plethora of prestigious awards, and she has been the sole Australian representative at the finals of various international vocal competitions, including the Robert Stolz Prize in Vienna and the Veronica Dunne Competition in Dublin. Some award highlights include Young Australian of the Year (QLD), Young Queenslander of the Year, the Monash University Advanced Italian Studies Award, an Ian Potter Cultural Trust Award, a Tait Memorial Trust Recipient (UK), and a Queen’s Trust Award (UK) for Excellence in the Performing Arts. Most recently, she was awarded the Paula and Tony Kinane PhD Scholarship from the University of Queensland in 2019. Tarita is also currently serving as an Adjunct Associate Lecturer at the School of Music, University of Queensland, and has been the ceremony director of The Australian Women in Music Awards for four years, as well as chairing the Classical Committee of the awards.
Another of Tarita’s notable achievements is her role as the Artistic Director of The 7 Sopranos, an international female vocal group she founded in 2009 while raising her family. This initiative not only showcases her artistic prowess and entrepreneurial spirit but also supports young women embarking on singing careers in the performing arts. Collaborating with Cre8ion since 2014, The 7 Sopranos has engaged over three hundred Australian opera singers and toured globally, gaining recognition and acclaim. The group has released two albums, with their debut in 2013 debuting at No. 2 on the International ARIA Crossover Charts. ABC Limelight magazine hailed them as “Australia’s most beautiful voices,” and the Sydney Morning Herald dubbed them the “Showgirls of Opera.” Their second album, “Popcorn,” was released through Cre8ion, Fanfare, and Sony Records.
Tarita’s boundless creativity has recently led her into the world of composition and writing. She has crafted the book, lyrics, and music for a major new original musical theatre work, “The Sun Queen,” set for further development in 2025 which is bring produced by American producers True Friend Productions and Cre8ion. Another new work that is currently in development is a performance piece called The F Word and a musical play called 301 and 303. The F Word is being curated and created alongside internationally acclaimed concert pianist and composer, Tamara Anna Cislowska.
Tarita Botsman is a multifaceted luminary in the performing arts. Her contributions as a writer, songwriter, lyricist, stage director, opera singer, and artistic director have earned her international recognition and acclaim. Her unique talent and enthusiastic passion for the performing arts, combined with her unwavering dedication to the arts, promise to continue shaping and enriching the world of opera, theatre, and music for years to come.
