Renowned Baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes Joins Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium

“I’m humbled and excited to be joining the wonderful staff at the Elder Conservatorium of Music,” Teddy Tahu Rhodes says.

“In the formative years of my own study I had amazing mentors and tutors, people I still remember vividly because of their influence on the career path I eventually took.

“I feel privileged to now be in the position to support other students and feel a great sense of responsibility to inspire and mentor a new generation of young singers at Elder.”

Working as an opera, musical and concert singer in major venues across the globe, Tahu Rhodes brings more than 25 years’ experience to the role.

He has performed in leading opera companies in San Francisco, Austin, Washington, Philadelphia, Dallas, Cincinnati, Houston, Chicago, New York, the Hamburg State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, Theater an der Wien, Vienna, Welsh National Opera and Scottish Opera.

New Zealand born, Tahu Rhodes’ singing talent came to the fore when he was a teenager and he won New Zealand’s Mobil Song Contest in 1991. He studied a Bachelor of Commerce and qualified as an accountant before re-entering the world of music.

His international debut in 1998 was playing Dandini in La Cenerentola for Opera Australia and he would go on to perform there time and again including with all the major Australasian symphony orchestras and on three national tours with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Head of Classical voice at Elder, Associate Professor Carl Crossin says having that breadth of experience in the faculty at Elder Conservatorium is an absolute asset for students and staff.

“Teddy’s reputation and achievements within the world of opera, classical singing, and music in general is second-to-none and we look forward with immense pleasure to his contribution to our teaching, our students, our music-making, and to the cultural life of Adelaide,” he says.

In one of his first performances after taking on the role, Teddy Tahu Rhodes will be a guest performer at the University’s Waite 100 gala event on 4 May, celebrating the anniversary of the campus.

And on Wednesday 15 May he will perform with a stellar ensemble of staff at Elder Hall (6.30pm), as part of the Conservatorium’s recently announced 2024 concert series, Generations.

Director of the Elder Conservatorium Professor Anna Goldsworthy says Tahu Rhodes is one of the most celebrated singers working in Australia today.

“As the University of Adelaide celebrates its 150th anniversary, this appointment looks forward to the future,” Professor Goldsworthy says.

“Teddy brings a comprehensive knowledge of operatic repertoire; strong relationships with opera companies, producers, singers, musicians, and conductors; and a record of supporting younger singers. His star-studded credentials have significant potential to attract the next generation of classical voice students from across Australia and around the world.”

She says the appointment also capitalises on the Elder Conservatorium’s existing strengths, deepening relationships with the State Opera South Australia and working in close alignment with the Music Theatre program headed up by George Torbay AM, and complements several recent appointments at the ECM, including Lloyd Van’t Hoff as Head of Woodwind, Dr Emma Gregan as Head of Brass, Edith Salzmann as Head of Cello, and Lauren Henderson as Head of Jazz Voice.