Shelli Hulcombe completed undergraduate performance studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, furthering her studies in the UK at the Royal Northern College of Music. Other qualifications include a Graduate Diploma in Music (Sydney University) and a Master’s of Music Studies majoring in Vocal Pedagogy (Griffith University).
Shelli has appeared in a wide range of operatic roles with leading Australian companies, as well as international engagements in the UK, Europe and South East Asia. On the concert stage she has performed with the Queensland, Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Camerata of St John’s, Queensland Pops Orchestra, ACO Voices and Sydney Philharmonia. She was also an inaugural member of The 7 Sopranos.
Shelli sang for several years with the highly acclaimed chamber choir Cantillations. With them, she made a number of recordings for ABC Classics, including Carmina Burana, The Messiah (also released on DVD), Voice of the Angel, and Sacred Music of the Renaissance. Other recordings include Semele (ABC Classics), where she performs the role of Cupid with Pinchgut Opera.
Shelli is a passionate advocate of community engagement and music education. She regularly adjudicates at many of the major eisteddfods around South East Queensland and is a Singing, Singing for Leisure and Musical Theatre examiner for AMEB. Shelli also performed in the Musica Viva in Schools music education program from 2012-2021 with the chamber group Ensemble Entourage. Shelli is the immediate past President of the Australian Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS) and is currently serving as their Vice President. She has delivered presentations for ANATS, AVA and MTAQ and is regularly invited to give public masterclasses across Brisbane and South East Queensland.
Shelli’s research interests include the use of cross-genre vocal training to improve performance outcomes for the classical singer and she is currently completing doctoral studies in this area.
Many of Shelli’s former students are currently singing and studying across Australia and overseas, with organisations such as Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, Victorian Opera, The Seven Sopranos, Glyndebourne Opera, Pacific Opera, Melba Opera Trust, Pinchgut Opera, San Francisco Conservatory and the Royal Northern College of Music. She also has former students working in such diverse fields as music therapy, stage directing, speech pathology and music education. She is dedicated to helping her students discover their individual strengths and encouraging them to find their unique place within the arts industry.