New Generations Service Exchange

Louise Keast grew up in the NSW mining town of Broken Hill, from which the legacy of June Bronhill has been a source of profound inspiration in her drive to pursue a career as a proud Australian performer of the operatic art form.

Louise is now based in Sydney as she recently became permanent member of the Opera Australia Chorus, which is currently performing in Melbourne. Before that she was living in Warrnambool where she founded a choir which has grown to more than 70 members from 5 different regional town centres. This experience has demonstrated to Louise the power of music to move people, to change lives and to heal. She has taught several choir members to read music and to sing in a foreign language. In 2020 Louise took on the role of secretary of iOpera, a not-for-profit opera company.

She aspires to becoming a leader in the management of the arts where there are too few women in senior roles.

Louise has performed with Opera Australia, Melbourne Opera, Canberra Opera and numerous regional music festivals, including the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival. She was a finalist in the 2020 Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Aria Award, was twice a semi-finalist in the Herald Sun Aria Competition and has several other awards.