In profile: Andrew Goodwin
In profile: Andrew Goodwin
Opera singer Andrew Goodwin (OA1996) came to St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Year 4, in 1988, and was a chorister in the Cathedral Choir under Michael Deasey OAM.
By Richard Hansen.
He rose through the ranks and became a Senior Chorister and St Nicholas medallist in 1993. Andrew was also a talented basketballer and represented the Independent Schools Association (ISA) when he was in Year 12, in 1996.
Andrew studied voice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before advancing his training at the St Petersburg State Conservatory. His career as an operatic tenor has seen him embrace a wide range of roles at some of the world’s greatest opera houses, including La Scala Milan, Gran Theatre Liceu Barcelona, Teatro Real Madrid and our very own Sydney Opera House. Notably, he is the only westerner to perform the role of Lensky in Eugene Onegin at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.
He has received critical acclaim for his performances in recordings for Pinchgut Opera, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the world premiere of Rodion Shchedrin’s Boyarina Morozova.
On the concert platform he has toured with the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra under Yuri Temirkanov and performed with every major Australian symphony orchestra. His repertoire runs the gamut from Baroque opera through Romantic oratorio to contemporary music. He is a passionate champion of lieder and art song, and has given recitals throughout Europe including at Wigmore Hall, Mariinsky Concert Hall, Oxford Lieder Festival and countless international festivals. With pianist Daniel De Borah, he has recorded Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin and Winterreise for ABC Classic FM. He has received critical acclaim for his performances in recordings for Pinchgut Opera, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the world premiere of Rodion Shchedrin’s Boyarina Morozova.
Andrew is also an acclaimed composer. St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir performed Andrew’s composition ‘Peace I leave with you’ at a Choral Evensong to mark the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Andrew is now a parent of the School, as well as an Old Andrean with his son Aleksander in Year 8, who is also a chorister. They continue the proud tradition of fathers and sons who have sung in the Cathedral Choir over more than 140 years.