Deborah Cheetham Fraillon facts for kids

Deborah Joy Cheetham Fraillon AO (born Deborah Joy Cheetham, 1964) is an Aboriginal Australian singer, composer, and writer. She is known for her powerful voice and for creating new music. Deborah leads an organization called Short Black Opera. This group helps young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists learn and perform music. It is based in Melbourne, Australia.

In February 2023, Deborah was given an important role at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She became the first Elizabeth Todd Chair of Vocal Studies. This means she helps teach singing at the university.

Early Life and Learning

Deborah Joy Cheetham was born in 1964 in Nowra, New South Wales. When she was a baby, she was taken from her Aboriginal mother. She was raised by a white family. This was part of a sad time in Australia's history called the Stolen Generations. The famous musician Jimmy Little was her uncle.

Deborah went to Penshurst Girls High School. Later, she studied music at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. She earned a degree in Music Education.

Music and Storytelling Career

In 1997, Deborah wrote a play about her own life. It was called White Baptist Abba Fan. The play shared her experiences of finding her Aboriginal family and understanding her identity. This play has been performed in many countries.

As a soprano singer, Deborah has performed all over the world. She has sung in France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. She also sang at big events in Australia. These included the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Creating New Operas

In October 2010, Deborah's opera Pecan Summer opened in Mooroopna, Victoria. An opera is a play where most of the words are sung. Pecan Summer tells the story of the 1939 Cummeragunja walk-off. This was when Aboriginal people left their homes to protest unfair treatment. Deborah wrote the story, composed the music, and sang in the opera. It was special because it was the first opera written by an Indigenous Australian. It also had an all-Indigenous cast.

In 2018, Deborah was one of 52 people who wrote for a book. The book was called Growing Up Aboriginal In Australia. Other famous people like Adam Goodes also contributed to it.

Deborah also wrote Australia's first requiem in an Indigenous language. A requiem is a special piece of music often played to remember people who have passed away. Her requiem, "Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace," is about the conflicts between First Nations people and settlers. These events happened in south-western Victoria between 1840 and 1863. The music is sung entirely in the Gunditjmara language. It was first performed on June 15, 2019. Deborah sang with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, their choir, and the Dhungala Children's Choir.

In 2021, Deborah's work The Rivers Sing was shown at the RISING: festival in Melbourne. She created this with artists Byron J Scullin and Thomas Supple. It was shown again at the RISING: 2024 festival.

Her second opera, Parrwang Lifts the Sky, started in 2021. It was part of the Victorian Opera's season. This opera was sung in the Wadawurrung language.

Deborah's piece Ancient Land Processional is very important. It is performed in three Indigenous languages. The University of South Australia asked her to create it. It is now played at every graduation ceremony there.

In 2022, a new short piece called Ghost Light was performed. It was part of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's "50 Fanfares" project.

Teaching and Leadership

In November 2019, Deborah became a Professor at Monash University's Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music. She was also the Composer in Residence for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2020.

In February 2023, Deborah started her new role at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She is the first Elizabeth Todd Chair of Vocal Studies.

Short Black Opera

Deborah Cheetham leads Short Black Opera. This is a national opera company for First Nations people. It helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander singers, composers, and musicians. They offer training and chances to perform. The company also runs workshops for schoolchildren.

The Short Black Opera for KIDS program started in 2009. It created a children's choir to perform in Pecan Summer. This choir is now known as the Dhungala Children's Choir and is still active today.

Personal Life

Deborah Cheetham married conductor Nicolette Fraillon on January 2, 2023. They were married at their home in Church Point, Sydney. Deborah is now known as Deborah Cheetham Fraillon.

Awards and Recognitions

Deborah Cheetham Fraillon has received many awards for her amazing work.

In 2014, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This is a high honor given for great service to the performing arts. It also recognized her work in helping Indigenous artists.

In April 2018, the University of South Australia gave Deborah an Honorary Doctorate. This was to celebrate her important contributions to the community.

Australian Women in Music Awards

The Australian Women in Music Awards celebrate women who have made a big difference in Australian music.

Bernard Heinze Memorial Award

The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award is given to someone who has made a huge contribution to music in Australia.

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards celebrate live entertainment and performing arts in Australia.

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards celebrate music from Victoria, Australia.

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) recognize success in Australia's live music scene.

Victorian Honour Roll of Women

The Victorian Honour Roll of Women celebrates the achievements of women from Victoria, Australia.

Don Banks Music Award

In 2023, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon received the Don Banks Music Award. This award honors a senior artist who has made an outstanding and lasting contribution to music in Australia.

See also

In Spanish: Deborah Cheetham para niños