Alumni Dr Katrina Vanin (1984 – 1991) is an excellent example of how a love of performing can help you achieve in all facets of life. As a member of one of the four inaugural Australian Girls Choir classes, Katrina experienced some very special moments in AGC history including meeting Audrey Hepburn at a UNICEF dinner in Melbourne, playing leadership roles on both the USA and Canada International Tours and performing in the AGC’s first appearance at Carols by Candlelight. In her final years with the choir Katrina knew that her career aspirations lay in a field far from music, but weekly Thursday night Performing Choir rehearsals provided balance which facilitated her outstanding academic achievements.
Katrina studied Science at university and researched her PHD at Peter Mac Callum Cancer Centre, subsequently developing her career in the pharmaceutical industry. Somewhere in those years she also managed to fit in getting married and having two beautiful daughters! Her eldest daughter Alexia was the first ex-chorister’s child to be enrolled with the AGC; Katrina’s second daughter Felicity enthusiastically followed in her big sister’s footsteps joining both AGC and sister dance school Aus Girls Dance.
Katrina has seen the choir grow and develop over its 25 year history. Particularly moved by the additional skills and life lessons the choir teaches all choristers, Katrina has generously donated a Performing Choir scholarship. The Katrina Vanin Per Amore Di essa (for the love of it) Scholarship will be awarded each year to any Performing Choir chorister who is a captivating performer with great passion for singing and dancing, whose career aspirations may lie elsewhere, but will always feel that a part of her is on the stage. The recipient will be recognised for her consistency, spirit, dedication and leadership and importantly she will truly love the contribution she is making which is represented by her tenure. The 2010 recipient is Bettina Guilfoyle.
Katrina studied Science at university and researched her PHD at Peter Mac Callum Cancer Centre, subsequently developing her career in the pharmaceutical industry. Somewhere in those years she also managed to fit in getting married and having two beautiful daughters! Her eldest daughter Alexia was the first ex-chorister’s child to be enrolled with the AGC; Katrina’s second daughter Felicity enthusiastically followed in her big sister’s footsteps joining both AGC and sister dance school Aus Girls Dance.
Katrina has seen the choir grow and develop over its 25 year history. Particularly moved by the additional skills and life lessons the choir teaches all choristers, Katrina has generously donated a Performing Choir scholarship. The Katrina Vanin Per Amore Di essa (for the love of it) Scholarship will be awarded each year to any Performing Choir chorister who is a captivating performer with great passion for singing and dancing, whose career aspirations may lie elsewhere, but will always feel that a part of her is on the stage. The recipient will be recognised for her consistency, spirit, dedication and leadership and importantly she will truly love the contribution she is making which is represented by her tenure. The 2010 recipient is Bettina Guilfoyle.
