We are very pleased to be giving away three copies of Katherine Wiles’ book ‘No Autographs, Please!’, to our GrownUps members.
All you need to do to enter the draw is be a GrownUps member, make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter and fill in your details near the bottom of the page!
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About No Autographs, Please!
Backstage antics, onstage disasters and the long road to success – Katherine Wiles shares about going from Hamilton, New Zealand, to performing at the Sydney Opera House.
From unscripted giggling on stage, to having her costume eaten by a performing horse and missing an entrance thanks to country music legend Kenny Rogers … In this revealing memoir, Katherine Wiles celebrates a rich and fulfilling career spent sharing the stage with some of our best-loved stars.
In all theatre, the spotlight follows the leads, making it easy for the audience to overlook the role of the singers, dancers and actors who bring a production to life. Katherine Wiles is used to being dismissed as ‘singing wallpaper’ by those who incorrectly assume she’s an opera chorister because she ‘didn’t quite make it’. But she and her proud and passionate chorus colleagues are exactly where they want to be. In No Autographs, Please! Katherine offers a rare glimpse into a fascinating world that fans of opera – and the performing arts in general – know very little about.
How did a shy little girl from Hamilton, New Zealand, find herself performing on one of the world’s most iconic stages, the Sydney Opera House? Taking us from her first early spark of musical passion, this honest and hilarious memoir is filled with stories of backstage antics, onstage disasters and the long road to success. Katherine gives an absorbing first-hand account of the dedication, hard work, physical toughness and versatile skill set – not to mention the highly developed sense of humour – required to survive as a member of an opera chorus. Along the way, she shares her journey with legends of the stage such as Dame Julie Andrews, Jonas Kaufmann, Nancye Hayes, Sigrid Thornton, Nicole Car, Anthony Warlow, Graeme Murphy, Neil Armfield, Simon Phillips, Reg Livermore, Todd McKenney and Dame Malvina Major.
At its heart, this book is a testimony to an unflinching devotion to the art of singing. Documenting endless auditions, stage fright, life-changing encounters, heartbreak, the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – and a refusal to throw it all away – No Autographs, Please! is proof that the joy of music can conquer all.
About the author:
New Zealand-born opera singer Katherine Wiles has been a permanent member of the Opera Australia Chorus since 2007. She has performed and understudied several principal roles with Opera Australia, State Opera South Australia, New Zealand Opera and several companies throughout the United Kingdom. Her career highlights include performing at the Edinburgh Festival; guest soloist onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, Scotland; touring Australia with the 60th-anniversary production of My Fair Lady, directed by Dame Julie Andrews; and performing in the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House.
Katherine holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the University of Auckland, FTCL Voice from Trinity College, London, and a Master of Music (Advanced Opera) from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is the Australian Ambassadorial Advisor for the Dame Malvina Major Foundation and continues to perform full-time with Opera Australia.
Author Note:
‘How many singers dream of having a career in an opera chorus? Probably not that many.’
Little did I know that these sixteen words, scribbled on a piece of paper next to my bed seven years ago, would inspire me to write a book. I started jotting down comments said in the dressing room, in rehearsals, or from patrons and members of the public. Hearing stories from my colleagues and collating my own personal experiences made me even more determined to tell my story.
Every performer shares the dream of becoming a star, that’s what we are programmed to believe, but very few singers consistently remain in the spotlight for their entire career. But what if that’s not your destiny? How do you keep singing for a living? When anyone attends an opera, little do they know what goes on behind the scenes or, dare I say it, on stage during a performance. Whether it’s choosing to hang out with Kenny Rogers rather than singing in Act Three of Madama Butterfly, dealing with a hot water bottle down my pants on an outdoor opera stage, having my costume eaten by a horse or laughing uncontrollably on stage in a serious scene, this book turns opera on its head.
How is an opera created? How do I walk out onto that stage every single night when I’m dealing with illness or heartbreak? What is it really like to walk a day in the life of an opera singer, and how did I find myself working alongside Dame Julie Andrews for nine incredible weeks? Welcome to the world of opera!
Terms and conditions
- You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
- Competition closes on the 11th September 2024, winners will be notified via email by 12th September 2024.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be sent. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
- Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
- GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
- By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
- One entry per household.
- Prize in non transferrable.
- You must reside in New Zealand – the prize can only be redeemed within New Zealand.
- You must be over 50 years of age to enter, please check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.
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