The following article is taken from Scenaria magazine (July 1989)
PROFILES OF YOUNG SINGERS – HEATHER MACLEAN
Lyric soprano, Heather MacLean, made her South African operatic debut in June 1989, as Annchen in Der Freischütz (Weber) at the Roodepoort Civic Theatre under the direction of Weiss Doubell.
After attaining her Transvaal Teachers Higher Diploma in Music Education, Heather continued her studies in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and at the Morley College Opera Centre under the direction of Andrew Downey and Marion Studholme. She became known as a recitalist and performed operatic roles such as Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart), Mercedes in Carmen (Bizet), and Anne in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress.
During a sojourn of seven years in Canada, Heather MacLean became well-known for her performances in recitals, oratorio, and opera on stage as well as television and radio. Her repertoire includes the title role in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), Lucy (The Telephone), and Blondchen (Die Entführung aus dem Serail).
On two occasions, Heather was awarded the prestigious Johann Strauss Foundation Scholarship and the Alberta Culture Award, which enabled her to continue with advanced study in Europe, at the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst, ‘Mozarteum’ in Salzburg. Her teacher was Kammersänger Professor Rudolf Knoll.
Since her return to South Africa, Heather has appeared as soloist in concert and oratorio in Johannesburg. She has developed and teaches an Early Childhood Music Programme, and also teaches voice and piano courses to young students at the Redhill School in Bryanston.
Heather studies concert and operatic repertoire with the renowned accompanist Anna Bender, and is studying voice and Musical Dramatic Training with the internationally famous baritone George Fourie, since his recent return to South Africa.
