Tia Gostelow, Alex Woodward, Xenia Puskarz: Rising vocal stars share their stories

How rising Brisbane stars Tia Gostelow, Alex Woodward and Xenia Puskarz found their voice

OPERA

Xenia Puskarz Thomas, 22, Clayfield

As a five-year-old at St Margaret’s Anglican School in Ascot, Xenia Puskarz Thomas would not settle in class until she could sing a song. Her music teacher back then, Deb Cohen, may have had an inkling the little girl had something special, because she organised for the preschooler — now a gifted mezzosoprano — to perform at the school assembly.

“I made my mum cry when I sang the school hymn, unaccompanied, in front of the whole school,” Xenia recalls. “I’ve never stopped singing from then on.’’

Mezzosoprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas is heading to New York, at Ovolo Inchcolm Hotel, Brisbane. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

Xenia did not start formal vocal lessons until she was 16 — she initially concentrated on violin — but since then the Griffith University Conservatorium of Music graduate has become one of the country’s most exciting young sopranos.

Last year she won the national Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship, presented by The Opera Foundation, and will travel to New York in October to further her experience.

“I plan to go to as many productions as I can at the Metropolitan Opera. I’m keeping an open mind to see what opportunities might come up in New York because I could stay and study longer there,’’ Xenia says. “I’m so excited to head to New York — it will enable me to strive for that amazing international standard. It’s going to be challenging but I’m ready for it!’’

Rising star Xenia Puskarz Thomas. Photo: Russell Shakespeare

Having won the coveted Amelia Joscelyne Memorial scholarship as part of the Melba Opera Trust, Xenia also regularly travels to Melbourne for intensive training in singing, languages and marketing strategies. She recently enjoyed a month-long language course in Italy and is learning German and French as part of her five-year plan for opera stardom.

Not surprisingly, her talent has attracted plenty of buzz.

“I try not to listen to that. You yourself know what you can do and I always strive to be better,’’ says Xenia, who started her journey playing violin with the Queensland Youth Orchestra (QYO). “It’s the thrill in the endless possibilities of performance that makes me want to get up and perform again and again.’’

Xenia was drawn to opera from a young age.

“I love the acting and singing and the spectacle. Opera is so culturally rich, the stories of the operas are quite complex, including Shakespeare, and you have to go through quite a lot of human emotion to perform them,’’ she says. “Opera captures the drama and the heightened emotions of who we are as people. I enjoy performing opera and sharing the wonderful stories which enlighten the world.

Xenia, whose older sister Eugenie is doing her Honours thesis for her Bachelor of Music at the QLD Conservatorium, says teacher Margaret Baker-Genovesi inspired her to “take the leap’’ to focus on singing after she was a violinist in the QYO for six years.

“I started to do a lot of singing solos for the orchestra when I was in Grade 12, I knew I my voice was classical. I love singing for an audience.’’

Xenia’s mum Skye Thomas is a doctor and dad Konrad Puskarz works in IT.

“My parents have always loved music and always have been so supportive of both my sister and me choosing this crazy but wonderful career path,’’ she says.

And she is in-demand locally. She will sing Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Youth’s Magic Horn) at QYO’s concert at QPAC on May 25 and is the star of Brisbane City Pops Orchestra’s Love and Latin concert series on May 19, at Schonell Theatre, UQ, May 19, and at Sunnybank, May 26. She will also sing at the Opera at Jimbour event, as part of the Queensland Music Festival, on July 27.

“Opera is not a fixed path. I’m still young in the opera world, I’ve got to get experience on the international stage and keep getting better at my craft and to prove myself as a performer. There are endless opportunities out there,’’ she says.

MUSICAL THEATRE

Alex Woodward, 31, Hamilton

It took a “fluke” casting for Alex Woodward to get serious about a career on the stage. The son of ABC Queensland weather presenter Jenny Woodward, Alex was in his mid-20s when he won an ensemble spot in Sydney Theatre Company’s rock musical Spring Awakening in 2010.

“I was understudy for the main role of Melchior Gabor and got to perform the role a few times in matinees,’’ “It was fluke me getting the job because it was the first thing I had ever auditioned for and had only done very limited training.’’

Brisbane’s Alex Woodward, cast in The Book of Mormon. Photo: Russell Shakespeare

“Once I booked my first show, I knew I could make a life of this,’’ says the self-confessed late bloomer, who appeared in the recent Brisbane season of hit musical, The Book of Mormon. Alex played one of the elders sent to convert Ugandan villagers to the Mormon faith.

“It’s gruelling to sing and perform eight days a week but it’s so educational, seeing the people around you and how good they are at their craft,’’ he says.

“When I’m on stage and I look out into the theatre, I always take a moment to say thank you to the theatre gods because there’s nothing else I’ve ever wanted to do.’’

Brisbane musical theatre star Alex Woodward. Photo: Russell Shakespeare

After his run in Spring Awakening, Alex went to Sweden for three months of writing and record producing as a member of local band Streamer Bendy. Then, aged 25, he auditioned for the musical theatre course at Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium of Music — with the full support of dad Doug, a former photographer and farmer and now winemaker, and mum Jenny, of course.

“My mum is Australia’s longest running weather presenter. I remember when I was little, saying goodnight to her on the television. She has always been this powerhouse woman … I’ve learnt from her that you have to keep working on your craft every day,’’ Alex says.

The musical theatre performer, whose girlfriend of two years is rising opera talent Irena Lysiuk, is also keen on creating more opportunities for local artists. To that end, he co-founded the Matilda Award-winning company Understudy Productions, with recent shows including the hit musical Sweet Charity starring Naomi Price.

“My parents always have been supportive and I learnt from them I have to put my head down and keep working towards my goals,’’ he says. “Growing up with my parents, I felt anything was possible.’’

INDIE POP

Tia Gostelow, 19, Albion

No one was more surprised than singer-songwriter Tia Gostelow when she became the youngest-ever recipient of the Queensland Music Award (QMA) Album of the Year for her debut Thick Skin.

The indie pop trailblazer took out the QMA accolade last year against a hot field including Amy Shark and Ball Park Music, who Tia supported at a Brisbane Riverstage concert only a few weeks before.

“I wasn’t expecting it, I didn’t even think I would be nominated, so to win Best Album, I was blown away,” she says. “It’s flipping the usual story because I was up against the masters in the same category. I’ve never won anything before so it was pretty wild.’’

Brisbane Indie pop musician Tia Gostelow, whose song Strangers has had four million streams on Spotify. Photography at The Boom Boom Room, Brisbane. Photo: AAP Renae Droop.

Mackay-raised and now Brisbane-based Tia is currently on her debut European tour of the UK, Scotland, Germany, France and Amsterdam. “Playing in so many different countries, and exciting places, it’s always been a dream of mine,’’ she says.

Having played guitar since she was seven, Tia, whose indigenous heritage comes from father Bevan’s side of the family, first rose to prominence when her song State of Art won Triple J’s indigenous Initiative competition in 2016. “I could sing as soon as I could talk,’’ she says.

By age 11, Tia was performing on the country music festival circuit, supported by parents Bevan and Kristy. Her country music background allowed Tia to develop her own unique voice and style, also blending pop, rock and folk influences, inspired by Taylor Swift, who followed a similar musical trajectory.

Brisbane pop star Tia Gostelow. Picture: Renae Droop

“I’m still shy and introverted but I’ve learnt to be completely different once I get on stage,’’ she says. “My stage presence has come from doing so many talent competitions in country music festivals, competing every weekend. I learnt to be resilient.’’

Another supporter is boyfriend of three years, Mackay-based miner Jack Johnson, 20, who inspired Tia’s hit song Strangers, which has had four million streams on Spotify since October last year.

“To have four million streams is pretty insane. I’m really lucky to have a massive Spotify following,’’ she says. “I don’t usually write love songs but I wrote Strangers because my boyfriend kept annoying me that I never wrote anything for him. Now Jack can play it any time and he loves the song. I didn’t want to make it too cheesy.’’

She loves Brisbane’s supportive music scene.

“It’s a big enough city to have a vibrant music industry and it’s where I need to be right now,’’ she says.