LYRIC BOARD
Suzanne Chaundy - Chair
Suzanne is a freelance opera and theatre director and Director of the Richard Divall Emerging Artists Programme. A University of Melbourne graduate and NIDA trained, her career spans opera, text-based theatre and outdoor spectacle. Suzanne is passionate about good governance. Lyric is her fifth arts related board appointment. Prior to Lyric, she was Chair of Theatre Works. Suzanne has directed two productions for Lyric and runs regular opera directing workshops. Suzanne recently directed the mutli-award winning Der Ring der Niebelungen for Melbourne Opera at the Ulumbarra Theatre.
Juel Riggall - Secretary
Juel is a graduate of the University of Melbourne Conservatorium and has been a member of the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini in Italy and the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School. She has sung roles and chorus for various companies including Opera Australia, Victorian Opera and Melbourne Opera. Juel has also appeared with The Australian Ballet as the mezzo soloist in their production of Anna Karenina. Her recorded work includes La Partenza, a collection of Italian songs and arias produced for the National Gallery Of Victoria’s Italian Masters Of The Prado exhibition. Recently, Juel sang the role of Caterina/Mezzo Soprano in Lyric Opera of Melbourne’s 2023 production of Biographica by Mary Finsterer.
Paul Biencourt - Treasurer
Paul Biencourt is an experienced and highly skilled chartered accountant with over two decades of work experience in financial and accounting roles including two big four companies: PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst&Young(UK); and extensive work experience in commercial accountancy. Paul has also led a concurrent career as a professional performer in opera, musical theatre and classical concert soloist. Paul is a tenor who has worked as a principal in companies such as Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, Melbourne Opera Company, The Production company, Jacobsen Entertainment and RMP. He has received an Opera Chaser Award, multiple Green Room nominations and a Helpmann nomination for his operatic work.
Leah Phillips
Leah Phillips is a graduate of Melbourne University and Monash University and has performed with many of Melbourne’s opera companies, including Melbourne Opera, Lyric Opera, Victorian Opera and Australian Contemporary Opera Company. Outside of performing, Leah is an in-demand freelance digital marketing specialist and is currently the Digital Marketing Manager at Musica Viva Australia.
Coady Green
One of Australia’s leading concert pianists, Coady Green is acknowledged as a major talent on the international concert circuit. In 2005, Coady relocated to London where he frequently performed at the major UK venues and held teaching positions at the University of London and at the Royal College of Music. He has performed in major concert venues in over 20 countries. He is a frequent guest lecturer at leading international tertiary institutions. He teaches and lectures at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne. He is currently working on recording the complete solo and chamber music of Australian composer Linda Kouvaras, and the complete Etudes and Preludes of Anton Rubinstein, both for renowned UK label Toccata Classics.
Miki Oikawa
Miki has crossed over many areas in the arts over the years from a dancer to actor, producer and director. With a day job as a Product Owner specialising in identity verification, Miki is also a marriage celebrant and a yoga teacher / movement consultant, focusing on the specific needs of singers. Miki is President of The Richard Wagner Society of Victoria, board chair of IDPro and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.