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Read the full storyThe story of Paul Tabone is a tale of passion, discovery, and the timeless allure of opera. From the sun-kissed streets of Ingham to the grand, historic theatres of Italy, Paul’s journey into the world of classical music was forged not just in notes and scales but in the rich, centuries-old traditions of Italian opera.
Paul Tabone has been interested in music for as long as he can remember. He has been playing the piano since he was nine.
Despite being in the school choir, he didn’t know he could sing until his piano teacher asked him to sing one day.
“I didn't know I could sing until later on in life, I was about 14 or 15, but it was only because Mrs. Phillips (Paul’s piano teacher) asked me to sing one day,” said Paul.
“She heard me sing, and it was only then that we discovered that it was possible.
“Then I got very interested in that concept because I'd already, for many years, been infatuated with classical music, like that of Pavarotti and Mario Lanza.
After school, Paul completed his studies at CQ University’s Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Musical Theatre, and he excelled straight out of university.
Paul was in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s $12 million dollar opera ‘Love Never Dies’, but following this Paul moved to Italy to study opera and invest in himself as a classical singer.
“I owe everything to going to Italy and learning a proper technique, which I think is something that young singers here in Australia lack because, the tradition of opera is a very old tradition in Italy, and it's very difficult to find teachers here in Australia who actually teach a proper method of singing,” explained Paul.
“The technique is called the Melocchi, and it's not a technique that you can find here in Australia, because there's only four remaining practitioners of that technique, and they're all in Europe.
“It was extremely eye-opening for me, and it was wonderful.”
Paul is looking forward to an exciting 2025, including a show right here in the Hinchinbrook Region.