Alumni Profile: Tania de Jong
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Degree: Law (Honours) 1989, Assoc Dip Opera 1989, Grad Dip Arts (Music) 1992 Current Position: Founder and soprano, Pot-Pourri; Artistic Director, Music Theatre Australia; and founder, The Song Room The lives of an opera singer and a business entrepreneur might seem worlds apart, but Tania de Jong is living both at once – proving there can be harmony between high art and commerce. Here, Tania tells us more about the rewards of bringing music to diverse audiences, from corporate clients to children who have never experienced a live performance before. |
Tania studied opera at the Victorian College of the Arts and founded music theatre ensemble Pot-Pourri with fellow VCA alumnus Jonathan Morton, later joined by Dominique Oyston and Craig Macdonald. As the group’s commercial success grew, Tania realised there was a strong demand for creative, accessible entertainment for corporate and public audiences. She established an agency that now manages more than two thousand performers Australia wide and provides customised entertainment for conferences, dinners, festivals and special events.
While Pot-Pourri celebrates its 20th birthday this year, Tania is gaining community recognition for another of her ventures: a non-profit organisation, The Song Room, that brings the benefits of music and arts education to disadvantaged children around Australia. The Song Room provides not only live performances and workshops but also expert advice, support and materials to help schools and communities build sustainable music and arts programs that meet their particular needs.
Tania has been the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship and a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. In 2005 she received the Accessibility Award in the Melbourne Awards for her community contribution through The Song Room. She was recently named Ernst and Young 2006 Australian Social Entrepreneur of the Year and has been nominated for induction into the Entrepreneurs’ Hall of Fame by the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship.
Tania spoke to GradNet about life since university and the latest new phase in her career.
What does your typical day at work involve?
Pot-Pourri combines opera with cabaret, Broadway musicals and comedy, so the kinds of performances we do are pretty diverse. My day-to-day work can involve anything from singing to audiences at corporate dinners and events, to major public concerts for up to twenty thousand people. On one memorable occasion we were flown to Italy to perform for one of our clients!
I help to steer the direction of Music Theatre Australia; plan and produce a range of special events for clients; and organise tours. As well, I assist The Song Room in developing partnerships, organising special events and building its profile.
What are some of the most enjoyable/rewarding aspects of your work?
My work demands a lot of creativity, commitment and passion. The rewards are that I get to travel the world with an amazing and talented group of artists, and connect to an enormous range of people through the power of music. I feel I am making a difference.
What were your previous jobs?
I’ve previously run my own businesses as a tennis coach and as a singing teacher.
What are your career highlights?
Performing at Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s 90th birthday as the feature act was wonderful. That was also the starting point for The Song Room – I’d been reading about the number of kids in Australia who miss out on musical education because they’re distanced by finance, location or other factors like recent immigration. I’d also seen research that suggested music and arts can really benefit children’s learning in all areas at school, as well as their social and personal development. Dame Elisabeth encouraged me and gave me the seed dollars to get started. So far, The Song Room has worked with 90,000 disadvantaged children in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
What did you find most beneficial while studying at the Victorian College of the Arts?
Having the opportunity to collaborate with students and staff from other disciplines, such as dance, drama, direction, costumes and film, was a great source of inspiration.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love walking with my dog, swimming in the sea, cooking and eating yummy food, reading good books, and nature.
