About Aria Cappella
Aria Cappella is a Melbourne-based A Cappella quartet that showcases the beauty of opera, without the need for lugging around a Wagnerian orchestra.
Founded in 2018 by Jessica Joan Graham, Aria Cappella has already entranced audiences across Victoria with their modern twist on traditional operatic divas.
They seek to capture the majesty and thrill of audience's favourite arias in stunning new arrangements by for four female voices, and zero instruments.
Performance History
DIAMOND CREEK: OPERA & AFTERNOON TEA – APRIL 17, 2021
Returning to the stage with their selection of greatest opera hits, Aria Cappella gave the first concert of the year in the 2021 Diamond Creek Concert Series. For many in the audience, it was their first time at an Aria Cappella concert, but it was lovely to also have some familiar faces in the crowd. Music has a powerful way of touching the heart, and renditions of ‘Wishing you were somehow here again’ and ‘Pachelbel’s Canon’ brought tears to more than a few eyes. Working with Aria Cappella for the first time, MC Luisa added an extra touch of class to the performance. Melbourne, the divas are back!
HARMONY FOR REFUGEES - MARCH 21, 2021
Finally able to perform again after a pandemic-enforced, year-long break, Aria Cappella was invited to give a concert in support of a cause very close to their hearts. The indomitable Rachel Buckley organised the concert to raise money for Rural Australians for Refugees to support the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. The Dunolly Town Hall was a gorgeous venue, and the divas were thrilled to be able to bring live music once again to such an appreciative audience.
ON TOUR: AVOCA - MARCH 14, 2020
The owners of a brand new performance venue, Gallery 127 in Avoca, invited Aria Cappella to present the inaugural concert of a planned series of performances on the railway platform. Once again, Rachel Buckley was the charismatic MC. In a display of performance stamina, the ladies performed their entire repertoire while the audience enjoyed canapés and local wines.
ON TOUR: DUNOLLY - FEBRUARY 9, 2020
The Melba Room at Buckley’s of Dunolly was the perfect venue to kick-off the Aria Cappella tour. Hosted by the delightful Rachel Buckley, this concert featured favourites from both Concordia and Romantica programs. It was thrilling to perform to a more-than-full house, as enthusiastic punters who had not booked ahead had to listen from outside or pull up a chaise longue in the foyer. Reviewer Susan Anderson described the performance as “a feast for the senses” as those voices certainly carry!
ROMANTICA - NOVEMBER 16, 2019
After thrilling audiences around Victoria with their debut show of operatic favourites, Aria Cappella was delighted to debut their second solo concert series, bringing their unique style to the musical world of passion, love and cheeky romance. As has become an annual tradition, their new, wedding-inspired repertoire was performed at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Canterbury.
OPERA & AFTERNOON TEA - OCTOBER 27, 2019
As a special treat for the Victorian Seniors Festival, Aria Cappella was very pleased to perform their thrilling repertoire of operatic delights in the beautiful Wattle Park Chalet in Surrey Hills.
LIVE-TO-AIR RADIO CONCERT ON 3MBS - AUGUST 24, 2019
Making their radio debut on the Vocal Chords program, hosted by Sam Alfreds, the divas were delighted to chat and sing up a storm in the Lady Marigold Southey Performance Studio. Aria Cappella performed a selection of songs from their Concordia repertoire, and debuted their newest arrangement, ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima’ from Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore.
CONCORDIA TOUR - PORT FAIRY - MAY 19, 2019
Reprising their successful concert repertoire from their debut quartet performance, Aria Cappella was honoured to bring their unique a cappella stylings to the musical heart of Victoria, performing in the beautiful St John’s Anglican Church, Port Fairy.
L’ELISIR D’AMORE - GBD PRODUCTIONS - APRIL, MAY & JUNE, 2019.
Helen, Lara and Jessica had the unique honour to perform together as part of GBD Productions’ Victorian tour of L’Elisir d’Amore, taking the stage in Tarnagulla, Melbourne, Beechworth, Albury, Warrnambool and Oxley. Helen starred as Adina, and Lara and Jessica performed as the two-person female chorus.
CORDELIA’S POTTED OPERA SHOWCASE - MARCH 9, 2019
Aria Cappella was thrilled to perform as part of a special variety concert, held at Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat.
CHARITY SOIREE - MARCH 3, 2019
Fundraising concert organised by Belinda Lui at Augustine Hall, Hawthorn.
CONCORDIA - QUARTET DEBUT CONCERT - NOVEMBER 18, 2018
Aria Cappella debuted as a quartet (Jessica, Zoe, Helen, and Lara) in their first formal concert at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Canterbury.
“A modern twist on traditional operatic divas: experience the majesty and thrill of your favourite arias in stunning new arrangements by Jessica Joan Graham for four female voices, and zero instruments. Discover the works of Mozart, Puccini, Bizet, Verdi, and more, as you've never heard them before.”
TRIO & ERROR - DEBUT CONCERT - JUNE 17, 2018
Aria Cappella debuted as a trio (Jessica, Zoe, and Amanda) in a testing-the-waters concert for family and friends, at a community hall in Camberwell. The verdict was unanimous - the trial was a success!
Photo by Neil Tilbury of Neil Tilbury Films, in the garden outside the 3MBS studios in the Abbotsford Convent.
Action shot taken during Aria Cappella’s concert, Opera & Afternoon Tea, for the Victorian Seniors Festival, at the Wattle Park Chalet in Surrey Hills.
Photo by Mick Lampard, at Aria Cappella’s performance of Concordia at St John’s Anglican Church, Port Fairy.
Photo by Alex Rothwell, after Aria Cappella’s performance at a charity soiree at Augustine Hall, Hawthorn.
Photo by Angel Leggas of 3 Fates Media, at Aria Cappella’s performance of Concordia at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Canterbury.