Bustopher Jones/Growltiger/Asparagus

Bernard began his professional singing career when he took up a cadetship with the State Opera of South Australia in 1986.  During this time,  he understudied a number of roles with the company, in their productions of Verdi’s Macbeth, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers.  In 1987 he was appointed as resident tenor with the Western Australian Opera Company, performing the roles of Gaston in Verdi’s La trauiata and Laertes in A. Thomas’ Mignon (also understudying the part of Wilhelm) and Mr Octopus in the company’s schools production of Professor Kobalt and the Catfish that Cried.  He has had extensive experience as a soloist in oratorio including in 1987 two performances of Rossini’s Stabal Maler with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra and Festival Chorus which was later broadcast on ABC television and radio.  A finalist in the vocal section of the ABC Young Performers Awards in the same year,   Bernard was awarded a study grant by the Australia Council enabling him to study in London for three months.  Bernard’s performances of the part of Orpheus in the State Opera of South Australia’s production of Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice in June 1988 received critical acclaim after stepping into the role at short notice when the artist originally cast was struck with -laryngitis.  This success was followed later that year, when Bernard again performed with the State Opera of S.A. as the Prince of Lucca in Paganini by F. Lehar.