Deborah Cheetham
Deborah Cheetham is an Indigenous soprano, actor, author of the internationally acclaimed play, White Baptist Abba Fan, a graduate of the NSW Conservatorium of Music and the Julliard School of Music.
Deborah’s international debut in 1997 occurred in theatres and concert halls across Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. In 2003, Deborah performed with Argentine tenor Jose Cura at the Opening Ceremony for the Rugby World Cup, which was broadcast to a worldwide audience of more than one billion. In 2005, Deborah added to her list of international credits engagements in Paris, including performances at the Australian Embassy and the La Cigale in the Marais.
In 2006 Deborah was a recipient of an Australia Council, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts fellowship. The fellowship will enable Deborah to write, direct and produce a 21st century Australian opera; Pecan Summer. This new work will create opportunities and harness the talents of Indigenous singers and musicians, actors, writers and technicians. Deborah will also use Pecan Summer as the basis of her doctoral thesis at the Victorian College of Arts, assisting her quest to become a leading authority in her field.
The Australia Council, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts fellowship will enable Deborah to develop her knowledge and experience and extend her skills as an artist, composer and writer.