Performers
Tania de Jong AM - Soprano
Tania is a leading Australian soprano, creative innovation catalyst, social entrepreneur and spiritual journey woman. She is the co-Founder of internationally acclaimed singing group Pot-Pourri and MTA Entertainment & Events. An Honours Law graduate of the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of the Arts (Opera and Music Theatre), Tania has performed in over 40 countries and released 13 Albums. She performs as a soloist with choirs and orchestras, and for a range of special events. She founded Creativity Australia and the With One Voice choirs who work with a range of migrants and disadvantaged communities to build social inclusion and improve mental health and wellbeing.
Tania presents keynote speeches to multinational organisations on leadership mindsets, mental health and wellbeing and innovation through Creative Universe. She is Founder and Executive Producer of Creative Innovation Global.
She founded mental health charity Mind Medicine Australia to ensure psychedelic-assisted therapies become accessible treatments for mental illness. Her numerous awards include Ernst and Young Australian Social Entrepreneur of the Year as Founder of The Song Room and Brainlink Woman of Achievement. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2008 and was named in the AFR 100 Women of Influence, the top 100 Most Influential Australian Entrepreneurs and the 100 most influential people in psychedelics globally. Her mission is to change the world, one voice at a time!
(Trivia: Tania attended college in the USA on a tennis scholarship and her grandmother Slawa Duldig invented the first foldable umbrella in Vienna in 1929.)
Rebecca Bode Soprano
Rebecca studied at the Victorian College of the Arts and Queensland Conservatorium of Music before her debut with The Victorian State Opera and later as a full-time soloist with Opera Australia.
She travelled overseas and performed and toured in Europe, America and Asia with Columbia Artists Management, London City Opera, European Chamber Opera, and Opera in Concert Productions Worldwide. Her operatic roles include Mimi, Loretta, Musetta, Norina, Despina, Adele, Valencienne, Yum Yum, Josephine and Mabel. She is the Managing Director of MTA Entertainment & Events.
(Triva: Rebecca is the proud mother of two divas and is a funeral celebrant.)
Jon Bode Tenor
Jon has performed as an actor and singer in theatre, musical theatre and opera in Australia and around the world. He studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts before working with the Melbourne Theatre Company, Playbox, State Theatre Company of South Australia and in various touring musicals.
Whilst living overseas he toured with European Chamber Opera, London City Opera, Columbia Artists Management and Opera in Concert Productions Worldwide. Since returning to Australia Jon has continued to work in theatre, regularly appears as a guest soloist with Melbourne Opera Company and as a soloist with Opera Australia. He is a Director of MTA Entertainment & Events.
(Trivia: Jon is the proud father of two little divas.)
Jonathan Morton Baritone
A man of hidden talents, Jonathan not only sings exquisitely, but also has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, is an IT whiz, creates websites, teaches yoga and plays the didgeridoo. Jont completed the Opera Studio course at Victorian College of the Arts.
He performed with the Victorian Opera for many years in productions including Carmen, La Boheme and My Fair Lady. He played the role of Ben in The Telephone for the Melbourne Opera Company, Castlemaine State Festival and Port Fairy Festival. For Music Theatre Australia he played the Prince in Rapunzel – The Musical! and the Count in Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! He co-founded MTA Entertainment & Events and Pot-Pourri.
(Trivia: Jont keeps bees and loves his organic property.)
Anthony Barnhill Pianist & Musical Director
Anthony is a leading Australian conductor, pianist, and composer.
He is currently Musical Director of the 2024 national tour of Chicago. Anthony was recently Musical Director for Opera Australia’s acclaimed production of The Phantom of the Opera for which he won the 2023 Green Room Award for Musical Direction of a commercial musical. Anthony has a long association with West Side Story, conducting performances at renowned opera houses around the world, such as the Dresden and Berlin State Opera.
Anthony was Musical Supervisor and orchestrator for the premiere production of Midnight: The Cinderella Musical. He has performed with a range of artists including American popstar Mario, Tina Arena, Anthony Warlow, Lucy Durack, James Morrison, Lea Salonga, Rhonda Burchmore, and Dame Edna Everage.
Anthony studied at Monash University, achieving the university’s highest performance result in each year of study.