In Profile: Amira Hibberd

By Mr Kevin Knapp, Music Teacher

Year 12 student Amira Hibberd hosted her very first recital during the winter holidays, inviting family, friends, fellow students and staff to watch her sing three solo pieces and a combined piece with Year 11 student Hannah Appaneal and Year 10 student Paige Le Lievre. Music Teacher Mr Kevin Knapp interviewed Amira following the recital to find out more about her singing journey and how the recital came together. To view the recital, click here.

Can you tell us about your musical journey? When did you first discover your passion for singing, and how have you nurtured it over the years?

I have been surrounded by music for as long as I can remember. I began singing around the piano as a very young child before joining my first choir when I was eight. Since then, I have been involved in many singing groups, including the ACT Primary Concert Choir, ANU Open Choir and Luminescence Children’s Choir. I also recently toured Sydney and Melbourne and had the amazing opportunity to perform solo in University of Sydney’s Great Hall with Australia’s Gondwana Voices. Additionally, I have always sung with my Grandmother, who played the piano for me, which nurtured my interest in solo singing. Through my journey of choral music and consistent singing at home, I found a real passion for the art and began vocal training four years ago.

What challenges did you face while pursuing your musical aspirations, and how did you overcome them?

Over the years, I have definitely come across many challenges. One of these being that while violinists and other musicians have an instrument, my instrument is my own voice, and the quality of it is variable and dependant on my body. As I grow, my instrument grows too, which has been a challenge to navigate. This has been hard, both physically as I try to expand my ability and mentally as I accept that some days, no matter how hard I work, my voice will not be able to do the things I achieved weeks ago. This has been challenging, but thanks to the support of those around me and learning more about my voice, I have been able to manage it.

How did you go about organising the recital? Can you share the process and steps involved in making it happen?

When organising the recital, I first decided on a venue that would be fitting for the event and complement my voice. I chose The Chapel due to its amenities, including the piano and good seating, and its exceptional acoustics. Then I organised the other performers, including an accompanist. Once a date that everyone could make was finalised, I booked The Chapel and made up a poster to send to friends and family advertising the event. For the recital to be successful, I organised multiple rehearsals to run through the program and ensure the performances were well prepared. Organising all the people involved was a challenge, but the night ran very smoothly, representative of the preparation.

What inspired you to take the initiative to organise your own recital? Was there a specific goal or message you wanted to convey through this event?

When I was told that I had to organise an event for Year 12 music, I was originally hesitant but eventually inspired when I reflected on my musical journey. I realised how much time my family and I have spent on my musical journey and found the opportunity a way to showcase how far I have come and give back to my audience for all they have given me. I also dedicated the event to my Grandmother, who recently passed away and was my number one supporter and the original inspiration behind my musical journey. I found that, in this way, I also thanked her for all that she did for me.

Could you share some of the highlights or memorable moments from the recital? Were there any unexpected surprises or touching experiences?

A highlight from the night was the enjoyment I got from performing. I’ve always felt comfortable on the stage, but I often get nervous when performing solo. Sometimes the nerves get in the way and affect my singing and enjoyment. This time however, while I still got nervous, I found the performance fun and enjoyable, making the night exceptionally successful in terms of my own development as a performer.

What repertoire did you choose for the recital? Were there any particular songs that held special significance for you and, if so, why?

I chose to sing three solo pieces and a combined piece with two friends that I sing with. The first two pieces I sang, The Sky Above the Roof and When Music Sounds, are pieces in my repertoire that I am pulling together for potential music auditions and opportunities beyond Year 12. So, performing them was great practise to prepare for later this year. The third piece I sung, Some World Far from Ours, is a special piece as it was the last thing my Grandmother heard me perform and something she loved very much. I am also performing it at her memorial service later this month, so it seemed fitting to perform it once more at this event dedicated to her.

Did you collaborate with other musicians or artists for the recital? How did these collaborations enhance your performance and the overall event?

The collaboration with the others performing definitely enhanced the performance. Mrs Emily Leong, who accompanied my pieces on the piano, was an integral part of the night as my repertoire would have been unperformable without her. The combined piece performed at the end was a fun and energetic song with harmonies that lifted the event and closed the night in good spirits.

How did you prepare yourself vocally and mentally for the recital? Did you face any nerves or performance anxiety and, if so, how did you manage them?

To prepare for the recital, I practised my repertoire by myself and with my singing teacher to ensure I could sing the pieces to the best of my ability. I also warmed up properly before the event to ensure I could perform to the best of my ability. Mentally, I was quite nervous beforehand as it was the first time I had organised this kind of event by myself and was one of the first solo events where I was performing more than one piece. I was also very excited though and felt well prepared, which helped me to manage my nerves.

What was the audience's reaction to your performance? How did it make you feel to see their response and support?

The audience thankfully loved the performance. Many hadn’t seen me sing in a long time, so they were impressed by what I had achieved and delighted to be able to listen. To see my friends and family come was great and made me feel supported and excited to share my performance. The reception of both the event and the delivery of the music was also very encouraging for further musical endeavours.

Looking back at the entire journey, what advice would you give to aspiring singers who are starting out on their own musical path?

Looking back, I would say that the most important thing is not to give up. Everyone has bad days, and sometimes your voice won’t be where you want it to be. It’s often very hard to see how far you’ve come and see what you’re actually achieving. However, one day you’ll wake up or listen back on a recording and realise how much you’ve achieved. You'll recognise that all your hard work has paid off and that you can accomplish so much if you keep working hard.