Background
Cole was born in Leiden, Netherlands while his father was working at the Leiden University as a radio astronomer.
Cole was born in Leiden, Netherlands while his father was working at the Leiden University as a radio astronomer.
Cole is an honours graduate in music from the University of Sydney, having studied singing, composition, conducting and musicology.
In 1976 he commenced his education at Newington College. Aged eight, he joined the choir of Saint James Church in Sydney, as a treble. As a boy soprano, Cole sang with The Australian Opera (in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Tosca) and with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.
He was later appointed head chorister of the choir.
He was awarded a 1994 Churchill Fellowship, sponsored by Dame Roma Mitchell, to continue his vocal training with Ashley Stafford at London"s Royal College of Music and to also further his studies in Early Music. Cole has sung with choirs and vocal ensembles including:
The Song Company
The Australian Chamber Singers
Sydney Chamber Choir
Choir of Saint Paul"s Cathedral (London)
The Llewellyn Choir (Canberra)
Canberra Choral Society
Cole has performed with companies including:
Opera Australia – Title role in Giulio Cesare, Eustazio in Rinaldo, Nireno in Cesare and, most recently, as Oberon in A Midsummer Night"s Dream
Queensland Orchestra – Street John Passion
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs – Messiah and Carmina Burana
Chicago Opera Theater – Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Apollo in Death in Venice, Ottone in L"incoronazione di Poppea
West Australian Opera – Medoro in Orlando
Opera Queensland – Nireno
English Bach Festival – Fairy Queen
Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra – Messiah
London Handel Festival – Ulisse in Deidamia
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra – Noel! Noel! Pinchgut Opera – Athamas in Semele
Oriana Chorale, Canberra
University of Canberra Choir
Canberra Choral Society.
