HOBART, Tasmania — Michael Lampard started at the top and is working his way down — the music scale, that is.
The young vocalist, 17, began as a boy soprano at age 7. When his voice changed he worked toward being a tenor. But his voice kept changing and now he's a baritone with range.
It is a part he's comfortable with as "there are a lot of baritone roles around," including lead roles in the operatic field where he hopes to make a career, he said. Baritone music suits his voice, and has broad versatility with quality that is enjoyable for an audience to hear.
The word "accomplished" is usually reserved for older vocalists, but it fits the youthful Richard of the Hobart Ward, Hobart Tasmania Stake. He was one of the first lead singers when Tasmania's Bel Canto Young Opera was founded in 2002. The award-winning singer recently returned home from the Australian mainland after performing in a series of youth talent competitions in the Sydney Opera House, where he was a finalist and was the youngest competitor for the Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship. He has since performed to a standing ovation in a "Strictly Mozart" program and been invited by the Lord Mayor of Hobart to solo in the Hobart City Christmas Carols by Candlelight.
In the youth opera Cinderella, he managed a beard and sang opposite to a leading lady of 26. He also had a lead role in the comic opera La Serva Padrona, and held public recitals performing operatic numbers.
All of this for a young man who came from a family with no particular musical background. He started singing in elementary school at the request of one of his teachers, who was so impressed by his voice that she asked the principal to get him to sing. When his mother received a message to call the principal, she asked, "What has Michael done wrong?"
From that introduction, he performed in many school musicals.
"The principal was very supportive," he said. "He gave me lots of opportunity and a strong grounding. He believed in me."
His elementary school experience began before his 8th birthday and he's been singing ever since. One thing that separates him from others his age, in addition to his natural talent, is what one newspaper reporter called his "steely resolve" to practice. As a young teen, he began singing an hour and a half a day, but now a typical day will find him singing from four to five hours while he adds to his repertoire and polishes techniques.
"The gift I have been given is the reason I am able to keep going," he said.
At age 15, he entered the Tasmania Music Teachers Association competition. This, he said, was to gain experience with understanding that for the previous 25 years the winners of that competition had all been pianists, usually aged 17-20. He won first place in the state finals, one of his most prestigious awards. He's also performed on national Australian radio and was guest artist with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Hobart Chamber Orchestra. He made his theatrical debut in the role of Colin in the musical Secret Garden.
As an amateur, he often performs for charity. "The community supported me, and now it is nice to give back," he said, explaining that he's sung in hospitals for children who have never known what it is like to be well.
One of his concerts raised $16,000 (Australian dollars) to help such children attend a summer camp.
"I love that side of singing as well, knowing that I've helped," he said.
His mother, Gina, who works in costuming for Bel Canto Young Operas, is his greatest fan.
"Michael is a sensible boy who has high standards and goals," she said. She believes that alcohol and caffeine can interfere with the voice. When his voice changed it remained crystal clear. "We put it down to the Word of Wisdom," she said. "He kept that beautiful clarity."
He also receives support from members of the Hobart Ward. That support is important during times when stress of performing begins to add up.
"It is always nice to have support from the members and an opportunity to perform in Church or for a member of the Church," he said. "I am blessed for keeping the faith."
E-mail: jhart@desnews.com