After being at NBCA for nearly ten years, Mandy might feel like she’s part of the furniture, but she’s far from it. If you haven’t observed her guiding and teaching the boys in her role as Director of the Training Choirs and Performing Choir Tutor, you’re sure to have noticed her rich voice and radiant smile.
If you were fortunate enough to be in the audience recently at a Lyster Opera performance of The Coronation of Poppea, you might have asked yourself why Goddess Fortuna looked so familiar!
The reason is that Mandy Brook performs regularly…. as well as teaching, singing and nurturing her young charges, Mandy also manages to keep her hand in, in the centre of the spotlight. “Organisation is the key,” she says, when asked how she manages to fit it all in. “I have an incredible calendar and diary!”
From starting her musical journey at three years of age with violin and piano, the well-organised Mandy went on to study classical voice at university. Later she finished a Master of Teaching while she was still teaching and performing…yes, well-organised! In between her stints at university, she travelled and worked as a performer in Europe. Prior to that, she performed with both Opera Australia and Victorian Opera.
In addition to her work with NBCA, Mandy is a sought-after vocal teacher, vocal coach and director. Currently, she is teaching at both Genazzano College and Diamond Valley College.
So, does she think performing helps with her teaching?
“Yes, it makes me current and THAT translates into teaching. I develop, I learn and understand what performing needs.”
And what is it about her role at NBCA that’s kept her here for a decade?
“Ah that’s easy,” she said. “It’s the treble sound. The quality of it and the bel canto method. The young boys’ voices together are so pure and magical.”