2018 News
Bernay Studio “Friendship” Show
June 18, 2018
We had a great time yesterday! June 17th 2018 Bernay Studio Junior and Intermediate singers with special guests from WAAPA. Songs from the shows based on the theme of friendship.
Fremantle Eisteddfod 2018 Winners
May 23, 2018
Sasha Browne (age 12) was awarded 1st Prize in the U13 Music Theatre Section singing “Part of Your World” by Alan Menken
Stephie Adamson (age 9) was awarded 1st Prize in the U13 Classical section and 2nd Prize in the U10
WAAPA Diploma Music Theatre Production
May 19, 2018
Bernay Studio WAAPA Diploma Music Theatre students 
Amber Scates (L) and 
Ellie Orr (R) have been selected to share the lead role of Natasha in the upcoming production of Natasha Pierre at WAAPA.
Avenue Q
May 19, 2018
Tahlia Hanikeri and 
Sian Bussanich played in Redfoot Theatre Companie’s “Avenue Q” production. May 2018
AMEB Exam Results
May 18, 2018
Josephine Ellis (age 10) was awarded ‘A’ Grade in her Grade 3 Classical Voice AMEB Singing exam! Congratulations Jo Jo!
February 15, 2018
Tahlia Hanikeri (Year 10 2018)
will play the following roles: Christmas Eve in Avenue Q (Redfoot Theatre-performances start May 2018) and Linda in The Wedding Singer.
In 2017 Tahlia played the role of Auntie Pie in The Book of Everything and Cinderella in Sondheim’s Into the Woods. She also represented acting and singing solo for year 9 in the PLC Arts Showcase.
2018 Bernay Studio Singers Audition Successes
January 8, 2018
Courteney Cooper
(Music Theatre Cert IV WAAPA 2017)
2018-2020
Bachelor Performing Arts WAAPA
Courteney Cooper (age 20) is an actor, singer and dancer. She has had a passion for performing from a young age, having lead and chorus roles in school productions, including The Lost Thing, Grease and The Lorax. Since 2011, she has also been a part of the South West Opera Company singing and performing in numerous stage shows, including The Wizard of Oz and Frozen in Time. In 2013 she was shortlisted for Bell Shakespeare’s Regional Scholarship and received the 2015 Senior Drama Aggregate Award for the WA Performing Arts Eisteddfod, which she has taken part in since 2013. In 2016 she spent time training and performing at The Actor’s Hub in Labs and in the production How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found. In 2017 she studied with Laura Bernay and completed the Music Theatre Certificate IV course at WAAPA. Courteney was accepted into the Bachelor of Performing Arts WAAPA 2018-2020.
Grace Arangio (Diploma of Classical Music (Voice) and Music Theatre Cert IV WAAPA 2017)
2018 Foundation Course VCA (Melbourne)
Grace is 20 and started taking singing lessons at high school (Penrhos College) when she was 13 years old. Since then, her love for music and performance has blossomed. At school, she threw herself into every opportunity to perform and was involved in a number of musicals including Oliver! Beauty & The Beast, Guys & Dolls and Hairspray. In 2017 Grace studied two courses concurrently at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) – the Diploma of Classical Music (Voice) and the Certificate IV in Music Theatre, studying singing with Laura Bernay. Grace is off to Melbourne in 2018 to complete the Foundation Course at the VCA in Melbourne.
Bachelor of Music in Voice
Melbourne Conservatorium
University of Melbourne 2018-2021
Helen Steicke (age 20) was a Classical Voice student at WAAPA in 2017 studying with Laura Bernay. Before returning to Perth last year, she spent two years training in classical ballet at the Central School of Ballet in London. On coming home to Perth she has been able to develop her passion for singing taking lessons with Laura. Helen has performed character roles in musicals such as Les Miserables and The Sound of Music as well as dance in the full length ballets The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. Her dream is to one day return to Europe and “tread the boards” combining both her passions, dancing and singing and turn them into a life-long performance career. Next year Helen is heading to Melbourne after successfully auditioning for the Melbourne Conservatorium and will commence a Bachelor of Music in Singing 2018-2021.
“Laura is amazing. There is no better way of describing the wonderful vocal teacher I had since I was six years old until last year! In those past 16 years, I have gone from being an untrained little girl with a big set of lungs to being accepted for a place in the UWA Conservatorium of Music this year. I cannot thank Laura enough for the wonderful years of skilled and patient training, the extensive knowledge imparted, the passion for music and all things pertaining to the voice that she has shared with me! Of all the things I have in the world, of all the things that give me pleasure and joy, of all the things I value the most, my voice is to me the most precious. Thank you, Laura, for giving me this happiness.”
Claire Lane (UWA Conservatorium of Music 2018-2021)
Euan MacMillan (Year 12 2017)
WAAPA Bachelor of Music Classical Voice 2018-2021
Grace Fermanis (Year 12 2017)
WAAPA Bachelor of Music Classical Voice 2018-2021
Zoe Crisp (Year 12 2017)
Diploma Music Theatre WAAPA 2018
Amber Scates
(Year 12 2017)
Diploma Music Theatre WAAPA 2018
Ellie Orr (age 19)
Diploma Music Theatre WAAPA 2018
Trinity Ellis Diploma of Acting WAAPA 2018
(photo coming…)
Busy Young Singers!
January 7, 2018
Amy Cornel (Year 12) played the lead role of Danielle in Black Box Production revival of “Bring it On” The Musical. Review
Ella Hagon has been busy in 2017 and will be even busier in 2018!
She has been selected for the youth chorus in WA Opera’s Carmen at His Majesty’s Theatre in mid 2018 https://www.waopera.asn.au/ She has been cast as Teen Gaga in We Will Rock You at His Majesty’s Theatre in March 2018 https://www.wewillrockyouperth.com.au/
Charlotte’s Web – Ella is playing her first lead in the role of ‘Fern’ at Stirling Theatre in February 2018 (tickets on sale in December) Thumbelina December 2017 – International Life sized puppet show – Riverside Theatre, Perth Convention Centre – Ella is singing live during the show. http://www.thumbelina.com.au/
Tahlia Hanikeri Year 10 2018
In 2017 Tahlia played the role of Auntie Pie in The Book of Everything and Cinderella in Sondheim’s Into the Woods. She also represented acting and singing solo for year 9 in the PLC Arts Showcase.
Tahlia will play the following roles next year in 2018:
Christmas Eve in Avenue Q (Redfoot Theatre-performances start May 2018) and Linda in The Wedding Singer.
Jessica-Monique (age 13) had a great Year with AMEB exams:
- AMEB Grade 4 Flute A
- AMEB Grade 5 Classical Voice A
- AMEB Grade 5 Musical Theatre A
- Numerous prizes in the Fremantle and North of Perth Eisteddfods
Sian Bussanich (Year 12 in 2018) will be playing the role of Lucy in Avenue Q (Redfoot Theatre-performances start May 2018)
Sasha Browne (age 11) pictured here at her performance for the Bernay Studio French Recital August 2017.
Sasha also sang for the Wild Cats game in 2017 and wowed them!
Gondwana Success!
October 21, 2017
Josephine Ellis (age 10) has successfully auditioned for Gondwana Choirs and was accepted into the Junior Gondwana Choir and will be heading to Sydney in January 2018 for 2 weeks of workshops and a finale concert at the Sydney Opera House! Congratulations Jo Jo!
AMEB Exams Success
September 20, 2017
Congratulations to Stephie Adamson (age 8) for receiving an ‘A’ grade in Grade 1 Music Theatre Exam. Bravo!
And here is Stephie again with her second exam for the year-Grade 1 Classical Singing AMEB ‘A’, jumping for joy!
Congratulations to Elina Ito (age 9) for an ‘A’ in her Preliminary Classical Voice, Well done Elina!
North Perth Music Eisteddfod Winners
September 12, 2017
Emily O’Neill (age 17) was the Under 18 Music Theatre 1st Prize Winner this year and will be singing in the winner’s concert along with another Bernay Studio singer Jessica-Monique Bojanjac who won 1st Prize in the Under 13 Contemporary Voice. Well done!
Emily O’Neill (below)
Zonta Benefit Concert
August 21, 2017
August 19th A fabulous show “With a Smile and a Song” sold out! Proceeds went to Zonta Club of Perth to raise money for birthing kits that help save lives. Brilliant night of fun with Bernay Studio singers studying at WAAPA in Classical Voice, Music Theatre Cert IV, Year 12s John Curtin Senior High, Carey Baptiste College and St. Hilda’s.
With a Smile and a Song
August 20, 2017
August 19, 7.30 pm at the Shenton Park Community Theatre,
Cnr. Onslow Rd. and Herbert Sts. Shenton Park.
A fundraising concert for the Zonta Club of Perth. WAAPA singers in classical voice and music theatre Cert IV from Bernay Studio performed songs of courage and inspiration. Proceeds went towards funds for birthing kits that save lives by providing a clean and safe birthing environment for women in developing countries.
Fremantle Eisteddfod 2017
May 20, 2017
Sasha Browne (age 11) 1st Prize in the U13 Music Theatre Vocal section
Well done!
Josephine Ellis (age 9) 1st Prize U10 Well done!
Stephanie Adamson (R) (age 7) 2nd Prize U10 Vocal Solo
Congratulations for your first eisteddfod!
Lead Role Shared by Best Friends!
May 19, 2017
Follow the yellow brick road girls! Amber Scates and Zoe Crisp (ages 17) have both landed the lead role of Dorothy in John Curtin’s 2017 musical “The Wizard of Oz”. Performances in late June. Time to brush up on ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’!!
AMEB Awards Recipient
March 20, 2017
In March 2017 Jessica-Monique (age 12) receiving her Award of Excellence for 3rd Grade Flute and 2nd Grade Drama & Performance. She also received an Award of Excellence for 2nd Grade Theory of Music, 3rd Grade Theory of Music and 1st Grade Musical Theatre Voice. The required grade for receiving these awards is A+. Congratulations Jessica-Monique!
2017 WAAPA Auditions Successes
January 3, 2017
Congratulations to Bernay Studio Students successful auditions into WAAPA 2017!
Grace Arangio-Music Theatre Certificate & Classical Voice Diploma; Keaton Stazewski-Hose-Bachelor of Music Classical Voice (age 19); Rama Nicholson (age 16) Diploma of Music Classical Voice
Gondwana Success 2017
January 3, 2017
Laura (age 10) (L) and Sasha (age 10) (R) are going to Sydney in January 2017 to sing with the Gondwana Choir after their successful auditions. Well done girls!