A Pennant Hills local, Jennifer Kaye has long loved music. Training to be an opera singer at the Sydney Conservatorium in the 90s, Jennifer became enthralled with the vocal ensemble repertoire from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Jennifer Kaye
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This period includes forms like the madrigal, a secular vocal form from Italy that took root in the Renaissance; the canzonetta, a lighter version of the madrigal; and villanella, Italian folk song from the era.
‘My goal when I changed careers from the public service to music was to sing professionally on the opera stage,’ says Jennifer. ‘But even though it was exciting to sing at the Opera House as part of the full force of the opera chorus, it is the small, unaccompanied vocal ensembles that I have enjoyed the most.’
Jennifer went on to teach singing at Loreto Normanhurst between 2003 and 2017, before running her own vocal ensembles from home. She has found like-minded enthusiasts who enjoy performing the madrigal repertoire. In 2024, as part of a trio, Jennifer performed in Port Stephens in a fundraising concert for the Tomaree Cultural Development Group. The trio helped raise $3,500 for the cause.
Her group, Philomel, is a not-for-profit looking for more members. With weekly group rehearsals in Pennant Hills and no fees but a subscription to cover costs, Jennifer hopes to bring more interest to the neglected genre.
‘The main requirement is a love of the songs, but we are also seeking confident singers who are comfortable with reading music and singing in languages, and who have the time to work on the repertoire from week to week,’ says Jennifer.
Contact Jennifer via email , or by calling.
The group can be found on YouTube under the handle “Philomel of Sydney”.