Fiona McArdle

Fiona McArdle is a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music. Fiona’s research focuses on vocal music and how to improve the accessibility of Australian classical vocal works, especially works composed by female-identifying Australians. Fiona’s thesis, supported by the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, seeks to highlight 21st century art song compositions by Australian women composers, acknowledging the vast contribution women composers are making to the current landscape of Australian classical music.

A graduate of the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music, Fiona went on to complete a Master of Music at the prestigious New England Conservatory in Boston, USA, before moving to London, UK. There she made her London debut in the role of Mimì (La Bohéme) with Hampstead Gardens Opera (2019). Since returning to Adelaide in late-2020, Fiona has performed regularly with State Opera South Australia and the Adelaide Festival; performing Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw), Cousin Hebe (HMS Pinafore) and Counsel (Trial by Jury), and covering the role of Cook (Кухарочка) in The Nightingale and Other Fables (Stravinsky).

Fiona also has a passion for developing innovative musical education programs for children and young people and has worked on education and outreach projects with Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and State Opera South Australia. She has performed and taught in outreach programs for school children in regional and low-socioeconomic communities in Australia, the USA and the UK.