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saw the production of Oklahoma! in 2000 were privileged to be on the spot when Sam’s effortless baritone came of age; his performance as Curly soared, and gave fresh vigour to those wonderful Richard Rodgers melodies. A professional career had already essentially begun.

But back to the “pop” side if the story. From Wesley, Toby went to Melbourne University and studied arts for two years, broadening his reading and thinking, and getting some musical traction with a band called Dead Frenchmen (a name encouraging at least a following of Francophobes). He then switched to tackle a two-year audio-engineering diploma at RMIT, which he followed up with a Fine Arts degree, so by 2006 he was hugely qualified in a variety of areas, and continuing to develop his interests in sound reproduction. He also worked, perhaps inevitably, as a DJ at various nightspots. While peddling “nifty duds” at a city clothing store, to pay the rent like any struggling artist, but hardly the back-up plan his parents may secretly have hoped for, he met a young Indonesian (and former busker) Dougy The Temper Trap publicity machine at work in Germany

Toby Dundas performing at the Sydney Opera House, 2012 (Photo by Cath Tu) Sam Dundas as Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Victorian Opera 2009 (Photo by Jeff Busby)

Mandagi (the astonishing “golden voice” of The Temper Trap) and together they with old (and younger) troupers. Then followed began the band that was to bring them, eventually, international renown. A pub three years with Victorian Opera’s Young Artists band at first, a necessary step, they began to attract a small but loyal following, and Program and he instantly became their “poster were brought to the attention of famed Melbourne manager and producer Michael boy” – opera’s new youthful face. He was lucky Gudinski, who took them under his wing and produced their first album, Conditions, enough to be mentored by Victorian Opera’s in 2009. And the rest, as they say, is musical history. Winning two Aria awards in Musical Director, the remarkable Richard Gill 2010, the band’s popularity has burgeoned. Based now in London, The Temper (who cast him as probably the youngest ever Trap regularly tours Europe and the United States, as well as “down under” (much Don Giovanni seen on an Australian stage). In to Toby’s parents’ relief and delight) where their concerts sell out only hours after 2010 -11 he won a place in Opera Australia’s bookings open. Later this year they share the stage with super-band Coldplay on an Young Artists Program, which enabled him Australian tour. It doesn’t get much bigger than that. to play alongside some of the present greats. And this year he has been engaged by Opera And Sam’s story? Recently in Berlin, Sam was wandering the streets when he came Australia as a first year principal artist – a further across a poster announcing a coming concert by his brother’s band (see photo). It exciting step. The plaudits for Sam’s vocal was a poignant and surely instructive moment. For Sam was in Berlin to brush up his development are strong and loud, and opera German for when he will surely sing in a Wagner opera at the Sydney Opera House, lovers can look forward hopefully to a long and sooner rather than later. His musical path has led in another direction. distinguished career from the younger Dundas.

At Wesley, Sam studied singing under David Ashton-Smith, and upon graduating Two young blokes who have made it, driven won the Robert Salzer Scholarship to the Melba Conservatorium, where he largely by a love of music that simply would completed a four year music degree. His voice, his parents claim, had virtually come not be denied, and because they set goals and from nowhere, first announcing itself at one of those family Christmas sing-a-longs were encouraged by their parents and their round the piano, in a stirring rendition of Do You hear the People Sing? from Les school, the best of all partnerships. In many Miserables, which shut everyone else up immediately. Sam edged his way into ways, the story of the Dundas brothers reminds some professional work after graduating from Melba by accepting an offer to join us that a life in the arts is not so much a choice Queensland Opera’s schools program, where he gained invaluable experience as an imperative.

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