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Mary-Jean O'Doherty

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Mary-Jean O'Doherty
O'Doherty at the Paris Opera Awards, 2013
Born (1982-04-02) 2 April 1982 (age 42)
Houston, Texas
EducationEast Carolina University
OccupationOpera singer
Years active2005–present
Associated acts
Genealogy
Websitemaryjeanodoherty.net

Mary-Jean Anaïs O'Doherty (born 2 April 1982)[1] is an Australian-American coloratura soprano. She was the first prize winner in the 2013 Paris Opera Awards.[2]

Life and career

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O'Doherty was born in Houston, Texas, to an Australian father and an Armenian mother, Eliza Basmadjian, from Greece.[3] She was educated at North Carolina School of the Arts and East Carolina University from which she received her Bachelor of Music degree in voice and flute performance as well as Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2005.[4] She was one of the 20 finalists in the 2006 Operatunity Oz talent search.[5] O'Doherty won the ABC Symphony Australia Young Vocalist Award in 2007 and the following year was the first recipient of the Australian International Opera Award which included a scholarship to study at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice under the direction of Dennis O'Neill.[6][5] and was also awarded a prize by the Tait Memorial Trust to assist with her studies in Cardiff.[7] Shortly after completing her post-graduate diploma there in 2010, she sang the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Prague State Opera and reprised the role with the company the following season. In November 2011, she made her Royal Albert Hall debut as a concert artist performing in Raymond Gubbay's Classical Spectacular.[8]

In March 2015, it was announced that O'Doherty would be a member of the Armenian group Genealogy in their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.[9] Along with the other foreign members of Genealogy, she received an Armenian passport from President Serzh Sargsyan on 28 April 2015.[10]

In 2024, O'Doherty auditioned for the thirteenth season of The Voice Australia. Coaches Guy Sebastian and Kate Miller-Heidke turned their chairs, expressing an interest in working with her. She sang Miller-Heidke's song, "Zero Gravity", and chose to be on her team. She was eliminated in the battle rounds.

References

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  1. ^ Mary Jean Anais Odoherty in the Texas, U.S., Birth Index, 1903-1997
  2. ^ Edition 2012, Paris Opera Awards. Retrieved 10 June 2014 (in French).
  3. ^ Official biography mj.odoherty.net
  4. ^ "Music grad wins international competition", ECU Today, East Carolina University, 14 January 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Mary-Jean O'Doherty winner of 2008 Australian International Opera Award", Bravo!, October 2008, Australian International Opera Awards. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  6. ^ "ABC Symphony Australia Young Vocalist Award". Music & Opera Singers Trust. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "The Tait Memorial Trust is pleased to be assisting these fine young Australian artists in 2008". Tait Memorial Trust. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "Classical Spectacular (17-20 November 2011)". Royal Albert Hall. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Brey, Marco (3 March 2015). "Armenia: Fifth artist of Genealogy known!". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  10. ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (28 April 2015). "Eurovision Armenia: Genealogy meet the president of Armenia". Esctoday. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest
(as part of Genealogy)
2015 		Succeeded by
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