Associate Professor Narelle Yeo
After completing graduate school at the Shepherd School, Rice University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Narelle Yeo achieved considerable performing success in the USA, performing numerous professional roles in opera and musical theatre, ranging from CioCioSan in “Madama Butterfly” to the soprano in Terence McNally’s “Masterclass” for Pacific Repertory Theatre. On the concert stage, she soloed for the San Francisco Symphony and the Berkeley Symphony before returning to Australia. A “singing actor” and champion of new music, Narelle has premiered a number of new works in both the USA and Australia, including her recent portrayal of Catherine in the new Australian opera “The Long Ride Home” by Thomas Rimes. Narelle worked as a Director in the Opera Program at the San Francisco Conservatory, under her mentor Willene Gunn. Since her return to our shores, Narelle has also premiered works by young Australian composers including Luke Byrne, Paul Stanhope and Sally Whitwell and directed opera and musical theatre for the Sydney Conservatorium and numerous other companies and schools. She has most recently premiered new works at the Moorambilla Festival and the Brisbane Festival.
Narelle has undertaken Honours supervision at the University of Sydney. As a lawyer, she supervised the training of young lawyers in aspects of Human Rights Law. She has taught Stagecraft and Voice to graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Sydney, Wesley Institute, San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She taught undergraduate students as a Graduate Assistant at Rice University.
Narelle's current research revolves around the sociological dynamics of an operatic rehearsal; monodrama and expressionism; fostering creativity in disengaged students.
Recent lectures on vocal technique and creativity have been presented to the NSW Kodaly Conference, 2014; National Association of Teachers of Singing 2014; Outperformers 2013.
Publications
Journals
- Yeo, N., Fuller, B., Kenway, S. (2023). Instructional design and course delivery as meta-ensemble: Improvisatory responses to COVID constraints in tertiary music ensemble assessments. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 20(3). [More Information]
- Yeo, N., Mohler, S., Paxton, I., Kwan, H., Massey, L., Hallworth, T. (2022). "The Connection Itself was the Project": Capstone Experiences for Emerging Professional Musicians Through WIL. A Practice Report. Student Success, 13(3), 37-45. [More Information]
- Grant, S., Yeo, N., Fenton, M. (2022). Traversing the proscenium: Audience enworlding in musical theatre. Australasian Drama Studies, (80), 184-215. [More Information]
Conferences
- Yeo, N. (2022). Bouncing voices in rehearsal – The transformative power of circular mentoring in music theatre touring projects. 24th International Seminar of the ISME Commission on the Education of the Professional Musician, Online: Southern Cross University. [More Information]
Music
- Yeo, N., Lobelson, S., Rimes, T. (2023). Annus Horribilis. Annus Horribilis. The Cathedral, Church of St. David, Hobart, Australia: Far Too Soon Productions. [More Information]
- Yeo, N., Sholl, E., Miller, D. (2019). Portrait: Valse chantee (Cecile Chaminade Chanson et Badinerie (Pierre Camus Le rossignol (Delibes Une flute invisible (Saint-Saens Sonata for Flute and Piano, Fetes Galantes, (Poulenc), Amor - George - Black Max - Graceful Ghost Rag (William Bolcom Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein). Sifflet Rossignol. Recital Hall West, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, Australia: Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
- Carrigan, J., Yeo, N., Benedict, R., Kortum, J. (2019). An opera in three acts by Meta Overman. Psyche. Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, Australia: Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Live Theatre
- Yeo, N., Stanhope, P. (2021). Quem Quaeritis - a Play of the Nativity. Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney, Sydney, Australia: Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
- Yeo, N., Bate, R., Diazmunoz, E., Wilcox, C., Karuso-Thum, E., Ansell, O., Austinmer Dance Theatre, ,., Hidden, D., Vilarino, J., Wollongong Conservatorium singers, ,., et al (2018). Mahagonny Songspiel. Wollongong Spiegletent - The Arts Precinct, Wollongong, Australia: Sydney and Wollongong Conservatorium of Music in association with Opera Carnivale.
Recorded / Rendered Performance
- Yeo, N., Lemoh, T. (2022). Henry Handel Richardson - Let Spring Come and other songs, CD, London, United Kingdom: Toccata Classics.
- Yeo, N., Scott, E. (2021). A world premiere animated opera scene of Annus Horribilis, a new digital opera by Tom Rimes. On Annus Horribilis by Tom Rimes, Youtube, Itunes, Sydney, Australia: Youtube.
- Yeo, N., Newsome, S., Carrigan, J., Lemoh, T., Richter, G. (2019). Grotesque and other chamber works by Meta Overman: 1. Grotesque. On Grotesque and other chamber works by Meta Overman, CD, iTunes, Wollongong, Australia: Wirripang Media.
2023
- Yeo, N., Lobelson, S., Rimes, T. (2023). Annus Horribilis. Annus Horribilis. The Cathedral, Church of St. David, Hobart, Australia: Far Too Soon Productions. [More Information]
- Yeo, N., Fuller, B., Kenway, S. (2023). Instructional design and course delivery as meta-ensemble: Improvisatory responses to COVID constraints in tertiary music ensemble assessments. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 20(3). [More Information]
2022
- Yeo, N., Lemoh, T. (2022). Henry Handel Richardson - Let Spring Come and other songs, CD, London, United Kingdom: Toccata Classics.
- Yeo, N., Mohler, S., Paxton, I., Kwan, H., Massey, L., Hallworth, T. (2022). "The Connection Itself was the Project": Capstone Experiences for Emerging Professional Musicians Through WIL. A Practice Report. Student Success, 13(3), 37-45. [More Information]
- Yeo, N. (2022). Bouncing voices in rehearsal – The transformative power of circular mentoring in music theatre touring projects. 24th International Seminar of the ISME Commission on the Education of the Professional Musician, Online: Southern Cross University. [More Information]
2021
- Yeo, N., Scott, E. (2021). A world premiere animated opera scene of Annus Horribilis, a new digital opera by Tom Rimes. On Annus Horribilis by Tom Rimes, Youtube, Itunes, Sydney, Australia: Youtube.
- Yeo, N., Stanhope, P. (2021). Quem Quaeritis - a Play of the Nativity. Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney, Sydney, Australia: Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
2020
- Yeo, N., Rowley, J. (2020). 'Putting on a Show' Non-Placement WIL in the Performing Arts: Documenting Professional Rehearsal and Performance using Eportfolio Reflections. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 17(4), 1-17. [More Information]
2019
- Yeo, N., Sholl, E., Miller, D. (2019). Portrait: Valse chantee (Cecile Chaminade Chanson et Badinerie (Pierre Camus Le rossignol (Delibes Une flute invisible (Saint-Saens Sonata for Flute and Piano, Fetes Galantes, (Poulenc), Amor - George - Black Max - Graceful Ghost Rag (William Bolcom Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein). Sifflet Rossignol. Recital Hall West, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, Australia: Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
- Carrigan, J., Yeo, N., Benedict, R., Kortum, J. (2019). An opera in three acts by Meta Overman. Psyche. Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, Australia: Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
- Yeo, N. (2019). Crimes and Punishments. Staged scenes by Pacific Opera : 1. Down in the Valley (Weill), 2. Paul Bunyan, Four Ghosts Scene (Britten), 3. Paul Bunyan, Tiny's Song (Britten), 4. Don Giovanni, Ah! Taci, ingiusto core (Mozart), 5. Hansel and Gretel, Gingerbread Children/Angels Scene (Humperdinck). Crimes and Punishments. Opera Centre, Sydney, Australia: Pacific Opera.
2018
- Yeo, N., De Graaff, D., Lemoh, T. (2018). Three's Company (trio) - Chamber Series (Subscription), Hunter's Hill Town Hall, Sydney, Australia: Hunter's Hill Music Club.
- Yeo, N., Sholl, E., Miller, D. (2018). Gerringong Music Club Subscription Concert, Gerringong Town Hall, Gerringong, Australia: Gerringong Music Club.
- Sholl, E., Miller, D., Yeo, N. (2018). 1. Ich Folge dir gleichfalls from St John Passion (JS Bach 2. Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben from St. Matthew Passion (JS Bach 3. Chanson et badinerie (Camus 4. Le rossingnol (Delibes 5. Une flute invisible (Saint-Saens 6. Portrait: Valse Chantee (Chaminade 7. Ballade (Reinecke 8. The Graceful Ghost (Bolcom 9. Somewhere from West Side Story (Bernstein). Gerringong Music Club Subscription Concert. Gerringong Town Hall, Gerringong, Australia: Gerringong Music Club.
2017
- Yeo, N., De Graaff, D., Lemoh, T. (2017). 1. Three Songs for Mezzo Soprano, Clarinet and Piano (George Pikler) 2. Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano (George Pikler) 3. Vereinsamt (Walter Wurzburger) 4. Fruehling (Georg Tintner) 5. Pam for Clarinet and Piano (Werner Baer) 6. Smile, Lovely Rose (Werner Baer) 7. Threnody (Werner Baer) 8. The Unattainable (Werner Baer) 9. Hungarian Rhapsody for Clarinet and Piano (George Pikler). The Power of Song - Music for voice, clarinet and piano from Jewish refugees. Verbrugghen Hall, SCM, Sydney, Australia: Out of the Shadows: rediscovering Jewish music and theatre.
- Yeo, N. (2017). Opera Carnivale presents I Pagliacci : an immersive opera experience. Opera Carnivale presents. Spiegeltent, International Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong, Australia: Opera Carnivale in association with Strut and Fret, Wollongong Conservatorium and SCM.
- Yeo, N. (2017). The Little Mermaid (by Alan Menken). O'Kelly Theatre, St Ignatius College, Riverview, NSW, Australia: Lane Cove Public School.
2016
- Yeo, N. (2016). The Passing Show of 1916. The Passing Show of 1916. Recital Hall West, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, Australia: Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Selected Grants
2021
- Equity Prize: Brown, Yeo N, DVC Research/Equity Prize: Brown
Narelle has conducted choirs including CBCC, Aqua Luna and Sing'N'Tonic and has musical directed and directed musicals and masterclasses for school and university students.
