When Jeremy Boulton tells his colleagues at Bavaria's prestigious Gaertnerplatztheater that he hails from Wollongong, he's often met with puzzled looks. For the accomplished opera singer, however, the Illawarra region is the foundation of an extraordinary journey that has taken him from school eisteddfods to the stages of Europe.
A Homecoming Performance
The singer is currently back in Australia for a brief visit, which includes two major performances. He will present his debut cabaret show, 'Goin' Home', at The Phoenix Theatre in Coniston on Sunday, December 7. Following this, he takes on the role of bass soloist for performances of Handel's Messiah at the Sydney Town Hall on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14.
His cabaret is a deeply personal reflection on his transition from Australian shores to a professional life in Europe. "The show tells of my search for my new European 'home' as I dash all over the continent attempting to put down roots - both professionally and personally," Boulton explained. It charts the emotional landscape of living from a suitcase, the thrill of securing work, the experience of falling in love, and ultimately finding his footing in Germany.
The Illawarra Foundation
Boulton's artistic roots are firmly planted in the Wollongong community. His education began at Fairy Meadow Demonstration School, continued at the Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts, and included formative training at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music (WollCon). He began voice lessons at just seven years old with soprano Rachel Bate, WollCon's former Head of Voice, who taught him until he finished high school.
He credits his teachers and local programs like Southern Stars for his success. "From the teachers at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts who let me run free and explore everything musical and dramatic to those teachers at Southern Stars who gave me a high quality, structured platform... I simply wouldn't have made it," he said. "This city made me who I am today."
Life on the World Stage
Boulton's career abroad reached a significant milestone with his first soloist engagement at the Gaertnerplatztheater in Munich, Germany's state operetta theatre for Bavaria. There, he has performed roles such as Guglielmo in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte and Bob in Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief.
Living overseas has offered him a new perspective on home. "I've found I miss people much more than I miss places," he noted. His European colleagues are often astonished by images of Wollongong's coastline. "They are blown away when they see pictures of Wollongong's natural beauty," Boulton said, recounting how many have told him they'd move to Australia in a heartbeat if they could.
As a NSW Education Alumni Ambassador, Boulton is using his return visit to give back, planning to speak with students at his old primary school. He hopes to inspire the next generation by showing that a path from the Illawarra to the world's great opera houses is possible.
"Growing up in Wollongong was an instrumental, formative experience which has enabled me to go beyond what I ever thought imaginable," he reflected.
