Meet Our Team

Our Artistic Director

Katie Miller-Crispe is a mezzo soprano, producer, and arts leader with a passion for reimagining what opera can be, who it’s for, where it’s performed, and how it connects with audiences today.

Katie founded Operantics in response to a gap she experienced firsthand: a lack of accessible, high-quality performance opportunities for early career artists in Australia. What began as a grassroots initiative has since evolved into a registered charity and a respected presence in Sydney’s independent arts scene. Operantics has now created opportunities for more than a hundred developing, emerging and established local artists.

Under Katie’s leadership, Operantics has staged a diverse body of work, from Mozart’s Così fan tutte to contemporary chamber works like Menotti’s The Medium and the Australian premiere of Dove’s Mansfield Park. She has championed local talent and developed a strong culture of warmth, humour, and artistic integrity while growing a loyal and enthusiastic audience base.

Now leading Operantics into its next chapter, Katie remains committed to presenting opera that is bold, accessible, and connects with everyday Australians. Her mission is to continue building a company where artists can thrive, audiences feel welcome, and the stories told on stage delight and inspire.

Our Board

  • Alison Pert is a Barrister and Solicitor, admitted to practice in NSW, ACT and High Court, and PNG, England and Wales. She currently teaches international law at the University of Sydney Law School

    Alison served on the Board of Directors of Opera Australia from 2017-2022 and is a Trustee of the Opera Australia Benevolent Fund.

  • Bruce Watson is an actuary with 40 years’ experience in financial services and government, and is a graduate of the Company Directors Institute.

  • Gae Robinson is a qualified actuary who has worked in financial services, mostly as a consultant, for over 35 years.

  • Pamela Andrews is a professional opera singer and experienced arts manager. Pamela frequently performs with the Opera Australia chorus.

  • Robert Mitchell is a prolific opera singer and arts advocate. A veteran of almost 5,000 performances in over 120 operas, baritone Robert Mitchell first sang with Opera Australia at the opening of the Sydney Opera House in 1973.

  • Katie Miller-Crispe is Operantics’ founder and Artistic Director. A soprano and passionate advocate for the arts and artists, she is responsible for managing Operantics’ affairs on and off the stage.

In Memorium

  • Founding Artist Patron

    Taryn Fiebig was our first Artist Patron. An exceptional artist and musician, she was also unfailingly generous in her support of the arts in Australia, and emerging artists in particular, giving freely of her time, expertise and encouragement. Beloved across the industry, Taryn lost her battle with ovarian cancer on the 20th of March 2021 and she will forever be sorely missed. In everything we do, we hope to honour her memory.

    About Taryn:

    Helpmann Award-winning soprano Taryn Fiebig was one of Australia most popular and versatile artists.  In 2017, she sang Musetta (La bohème) for Opera Australia; Michal (Saul) for the Adelaide Festival; major roles in Pinchgut Opera’s Triple Bill and the title role in The Merry Widow for West Australian Opera; in concert, she was soloist with Sydney Philharmonia, Auckland Philharmonia and the Opera Australia Orchestra.

    Taryn’s roles for Opera Australia included: Susanna, Zerlina and Despina in Sir David McVicar's trio of Mozart productions (The Marrige of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte), Pamina and Papagena in The Magic Flute, Musetta in La bohème, Servilia in La clemenza di Tito, Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, Clorinda in Cenerentola, Lisa in La Sonnambula, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas, Aphrodite in The Love of the Nightingale, Karolka in Jenufa and The Woodbird and Gutrune in Der Ring des Nibelungen.  Her performance as Lucy Joy in Bliss earned her a Helpmann Award. For New Zealand Opera, she has sung Esmeralda in The Bartered Bride.

  • Production Photographer

    John Kilkeary was Operantics’ production photographer from our first production in 2015. John was an immensely generous supporter of young artists, and used his considerable talents to create many of the beautiful images we have of Operantics’ early work. There are few Sydney singers who came of age between 2010-2020 who do not have John to thank for a significant number of production images in their portfolios.

    John Kilkeary lost his battle with motor neurone disease on March 19, 2020 and is very much missed by the community he supported so faithfully.

“What a privilege to be a patron for such a necessary and excellent organisation. I hope I can be of service and help these wonderful singers by encouraging and challenging them.

To you, the audience, support them by being there at the beginning of their careers and watch them blossom into the artists they hope to be. At times it will be rewarding, other times, hard work. Let us go together on this creative journey!

— Taryn Fiebig, 2018