Helen Zerefos
Encyclopedia
Helen Zerefos OAM
, is an Australian coloratura soprano
. Her career has spanned almost 50 years on stage, television, in nightclubs, concerts and recordings.
Zerefos was born in Australia of Greek parents, Paul and Katina. Her career was launched in 1961, at a time when musical variety shows were popular on television. She was the first person of Greek heritage to be a regular artist on Australian television.
She was a regular member of the Revue 20 headed by Claire Poole. This was a twenty-piece choral ensemble which provided background choruses for Seven network variety programs such (Digby Wolfe's) Revue '61 and '62), (John Laws') Startime and Studio A hosted firstly by The LeGarde Twins and then by Colin Croft and Curtain Call, a late night variety program hosted by Revue 20 member John Wickham-Hall. She played Tup Tim in a professional tent production of The King and I in January 1966 at Warringah Mall in Brookvale on Sydney's Northern Beaches. She had also been engaged to play Maria in a later production of The Sound of Music (with June Bronhill who had played Maris in the original Australian tour of the musical, who was to play the Mother Abbess). The project was to scheduled to present six musicals presented, however only three (The King and I, Annie Get Your Gun and The Music Man) were and the project was abandoned for lack of both audience support and a dwindled capital base. The remaining musicals (Gypsy, Bye Bye Birdie and The Sound of Music) were never presented.
Zerefos was encouraged to pursue a career in America but her marriage in 1971 and strong family ties kept her in Australia.
Zerefos is also a tireless charity worker for the Ageing Research Centre at Sydney
’s Prince of Wales Hospital
. Her father died suddenly in 1981 and her mother never recovered from that shock and soon began to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Her mother needed constant attention, so Zerefos became her primary carer and she was soon fund-raising to assist research into this illness. Her husband, Raymond, died in 2002 after a lengthy debilitating illness.
Her extravagant costumary earned her the nickname Helen Fairy Floss. She also made a number of LP recordings.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, is an Australian coloratura soprano
Coloratura soprano
A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic soprano who specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs and leaps. The term coloratura refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, which is a typical component of the music written for this voice...
. Her career has spanned almost 50 years on stage, television, in nightclubs, concerts and recordings.
Zerefos was born in Australia of Greek parents, Paul and Katina. Her career was launched in 1961, at a time when musical variety shows were popular on television. She was the first person of Greek heritage to be a regular artist on Australian television.
She was a regular member of the Revue 20 headed by Claire Poole. This was a twenty-piece choral ensemble which provided background choruses for Seven network variety programs such (Digby Wolfe's) Revue '61 and '62), (John Laws') Startime and Studio A hosted firstly by The LeGarde Twins and then by Colin Croft and Curtain Call, a late night variety program hosted by Revue 20 member John Wickham-Hall. She played Tup Tim in a professional tent production of The King and I in January 1966 at Warringah Mall in Brookvale on Sydney's Northern Beaches. She had also been engaged to play Maria in a later production of The Sound of Music (with June Bronhill who had played Maris in the original Australian tour of the musical, who was to play the Mother Abbess). The project was to scheduled to present six musicals presented, however only three (The King and I, Annie Get Your Gun and The Music Man) were and the project was abandoned for lack of both audience support and a dwindled capital base. The remaining musicals (Gypsy, Bye Bye Birdie and The Sound of Music) were never presented.
Zerefos was encouraged to pursue a career in America but her marriage in 1971 and strong family ties kept her in Australia.
Zerefos is also a tireless charity worker for the Ageing Research Centre at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
’s Prince of Wales Hospital
Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney
The Prince of Wales Hospital is a major public teaching hospital located in Sydney's eastern suburb of Randwick, providing a full range of hospital services to the people of New South Wales, Australia...
. Her father died suddenly in 1981 and her mother never recovered from that shock and soon began to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Her mother needed constant attention, so Zerefos became her primary carer and she was soon fund-raising to assist research into this illness. Her husband, Raymond, died in 2002 after a lengthy debilitating illness.
Her extravagant costumary earned her the nickname Helen Fairy Floss. She also made a number of LP recordings.