Margaret Schindler
Margaret Schindler was born in Washington D.C. and moved to Brisbane with her family when she was 8 years old. Her early singing experiences were as a member of a community children’s choir, competing in local and regional eisteddfods; her soloistic ambition somewhat dampened through failing to secure a prize amongst 32 other young ladies singing She Shall Have Music in the Queensland Eisteddfod aged 12. This disappointment notwithstanding, Margaret went on to study voice at the Queensland Conservatorium where she was a pupil of Janet Delpratt and where she met Philip Mayers. It was during this period that their musical partnership and friendship was forged, a union which continues to this day.
Margaret completed a postgraduate diploma before moving to Sydney as a founding member of the Song Company. Two years later she joined Opera Australia before studying with Audrey Langford in London and Marlena Malas in New York, as the recipient of an Australia Council grant and winner of the ABC Instrumental and Vocal Competition. In 1989 Margaret moved to Germany as the winner of the German Operatic Award and was a member of the Opera Studio, attached to the Cologne State Opera. Her return to Australia in the early 1990s heralded the beginning of a more diverse performing profile, centred on chamber music as a founding member of Southern Cross Soloists. Margaret has appeared as soloist with many major orchestras and performing organizations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Germany in opera, concert, song recitals and oratorio. She has recorded for ABC Classics, Melba Records, Artworks and Tall Poppies. In the mid-1990s Margaret accepted a teaching position at her alma mater where she has been Head of Vocal Studies since 2010.
Margaret has recorded for Wirripang:
I Thought I Heard a Magpie Call