03 October 1946 – 26 February 1990

A Generous entertainer and a mighty talent! – text from the Herald Sun Aria program

John was born in Swan Hill, Victoria and earned the reputation of being a ‘fair little rogue’.  This reputation of being a lovable rogue never left him.

John won the Bendigo Aria and 1977, The Melbourne Sun Aria in 1978, The Adelaide Aria in 1979 and in 1980, the Canberra Shell Aria.  In 1979, John joined Australian Opera in Sydney as a principal baritone.  He was acclaimed for his roles of Marcello in La Boheme, Guglielmo in Cosi fan Tutte, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro, Gaoler in Dialogue of the Carmelites, Tarquinius in the Rape of Lucretia, Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, Papageno in The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni.

A rare entertainer, John could establish an instant rapport with an audience. His voice had a humanity and beauty, and his personality a rare charm that made him one of the most exciting operatic artists of his generation.

John is honoured by his friends who knew and loved him, and in his memory are proud to award the annual Herald Sun Aria in partnership with Melbourne Opera John Fulford Prize.

 

Search the RSSS archive results for a list of John’s incredible Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod results.