Ms Guila Tiver

Biography/ Background

BA(Adel), Dip(Opera Studio, Zürich), FDip(Speechcraft

Mezzo-soprano Guila Tiver began her vocal studies with English contralto, Nancy Thomas, at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide as a recipient of the Elder Scholarship. After graduating from the University with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Music and English Literature and two years study of French Language and Literature, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to further her vocal studies in Switzerland.

In Europe her teachers were Sylvia Gähwiller (Zürich) and Kammersängerin Elisabeth Grümmer (Berlin). She also attended master classes at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena, Italy. Guila graduated from the International Opera Studio Zürich with distinction and was immediately offered a contract as a principal singer at the Stadttheater Basel (1971 - 19730), then was the resident mezzo-soprano soloist at the Stadttheater Lucerne (1974 - 1984). During these years she performed in concert as a soloist at the Lucerne International Festival of Music, with the renowned Lucerne Festival Strings, the Lucerne String Quartet, the New York Chamber Choir and gave recitals and performances in oratorio throughout Europe, as well as radio broadcasts.

Following her return to Australia in 1984 Guila performed with the Symphony Orchestras of Adelaide, Melbourne and Western Australia, the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra and made numerous appearances as a principal singer with the State Opera of South Australia. She performed with the Victorian State Opera in the 1988 Spoleto Festival and has toured Australia in the title role of Bizet's "Carmen" with Co*Opera. Guila was invited back to Europe on several occasions to sing Berlioz's "Les Nuits d'Eté" with the Orchestra Regionale di Toscana in Florence and the Arturo Toscanini Orchestra in Parma. She has also  given master classes and a solo recital in Chengdu, China. Guila has performed as a soloist with the following eminent conductors:- Sir Bernard Heinz, Stuart Challender, Henry Krips, Hubert Soudant, Richard Divall, Patrick Thomas, David Measham, Dobbs Franks, Alexander Ingram, David Kram, Heribert Esser, Sir Richard Armstrong, Peter Robinson, David Porcelijn and Nicholas Braithwaite.

Guila has been teaching singing at the Elder Conservatorium of Music since 1985 and is currently Head of Vocal Studies. She has taught languages for singers (Italian, German and French) and has also performed in Spanish, Russian, Czechoslovakian, Norwegian, Swedish, Latin and Latvian. With an extensive knowledge and love of German language, literature and vocal repertoire, Guila has given numerous recitals and radio broadcasts devoted to German Lieder.

As an oratorio soloist Guila performs regularly with the major choral societies of Adelaide. As a recitalist she has performed for the Barossa Festival, the Adelaide Festival of Arts, the Chamber Players of South Australia, the Australian Society for Keyboard Music, University Music Society, Wagner Society, Festival Foyer Concert Series and Elder Conservatorium Concert Series.

Guila also has training in Alexander Technique, deportment and self-presentation (Professional Diploma in Modeling) and a Fellowship Diploma in Speechcraft.

Guila is frequently called upon to act as an adjudicator of vocal competitions, has served on the Council of the MTASA  and is a member of ANATS.

In 2010 Guila was awarded the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prize for Excellence in Teaching (Individual Teacher).

Entry last updated: Friday, 27 Aug 2010