My mother told me I was born to sing, but I don’t think she quite expected that I would one day share the stage with Australia’s best-known singer, Dame Joan Sutherland.

I grew up singing an eclectic range of music, from classical to music theatre, jazz to country and western.

I originally trained as a teacher with a music specialty, so when the opportunity came take my gift to the professional opera stage, I jumped at it.

Hi, I’m Joanna

My career has taken me all over the world,
singing with brilliant colleagues and conductors
and honing my craft with inspirational teachers and vocal coaches.

Career Highlights

Australia

Black and white photo of a singer, Joanna Cole, in period costume kneeling on a dark stage
Black and white photo of opera singers on stage in period costume
Black and white photo of a singer, Joanna Cole in plain dress and cardigan singing in a staged kitchen

Debut: Barbarina in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro' Sydney Opera House, 1989.
(Branco Gaicia Photography)

Joanna Cole, Gilda "Rigoletto" Opera Australia,
(Branco Gaicia Photography)

Dame Joan Sutherland's Opera, "Les Hugenots" Opera Australia, 1990. Joanna Cole, Maid of Honour, (front)
(Branco Gaicia Photography)

International

Four opera singers in blue/green costumes posing for a photo backstage Alcina
Photo of Joanna Cole opera singer in rich red velvet dress with lace sleeves holding a flute of wine from La Traviata
Dame Joan Sutherland and Joanna Cole backstage in rich red/orange/gold costumes featuring flour des lys from the opera Les Huguenots

Joanna Cole, Yvonne Kenny AM, Fiona Maconaghie, Michael Martin backstage Alcina, Opera Australia (private collection).

Joanna Cole as Violetta in Verdi’s "La Traviata", Opera Australia (for Joyce McGrath’s Archibald Prize portrait entry - with permission from OA)

Dame Joan Sutherland and Joanna Cole, Les Hugenots, Opera Ausgtralia 1990 (private collection)

I was honoured to represent Australia at singing competitions
and won many awards and scholarships.

Awards

Two smiling opera singers wearing red
Formally dressed women posing for a photo at a function
Two women in casual dress admiring poppies in a garden

Joanna Cole and Dame Joan Sutherland (private collection)

Marilyn Horne, Joanna Cole an Dame Joan Sutherland (private collection)

Madame Sena Jurinac, World class singer and Vocal Coach, with Joanna Cole Augsburg Germany (private collection)

What People Are Saying

  • Jan D-H (parent)

    “

    I have so much admiration for Joanna as a singer and an inspiring educator. She has an astute knowledge of voice and is quick to understand her students and tailor her tutoring to their ability and potential. She supports, encourages and extends her students and helps them achieve at a level which fulfils and exceeds expectations. she gave our daughter the gift of believing in herself and the platform to reach for the stars.

    "

  • Kathryn (adult student)

    “

    Joanna is a gifted vocalist and teacher. She is very encouraging and I noticed such an improvement in my range, flexibility and volume through her coaching. I really felt the weight of her experience in both vocal technique and performance as well as bringing out the best in her students. She was happy to work with my goals and tailor lessons and practise around these. I would highly recommend Joanna to anyone who would like to improve their vocal skills.

    ”

  • Simon (parent)

    “

    Joanna is a very experienced and very talented singing teacher – and a warm spirit. She brings not only experience and talent to teaching, however, but also a range of suggestions about how her pupils can use and develop their talents outside of class. Joanna took our three daughters under her wing and, with her guidance, one of them went on to perform in an Opera Australia production and a second in a Victorian Opera production. This second is now a student at the Queensland Conservatorium in large part because of the early work that Joanna had done with her.

    ”

  • Millie, aged 16

    “

    Miss Cole was my voice teacher for two years before I moved to the UK. What she has given me will last a lifetime.

    ”