Heslop is a diplomat at the New Zealand High Commission, having begun a three year posting here in December 2011. Of Ngati Ruanui Maori and Scottish descent, she enjoyed a successful career as an opera singer and recitalist in New Zealand and Europe before changing career paths in 2007.

She spent almost three years based at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia as a soloist of its Young Singers’ Academy and won the prize for Interpretation of Russian Composers at the International Rimsky-Korsakov Competition.

Her career has seen her play 24 principal operatic roles but notably for Susanna in “The Marriage of Figaro”, Vutellia I “La Clemenza di Tito”, Musetta in “La Boheme and Lucy in “The Telephone.”

In 2002, Heslop was the soloist for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Loebenstein has particular interests in the fields of accompaniment, collaboration and improvisation. Recent performances this year have taken place at the National Concert Hall Dublin, Cork Opera House, St. Martin in the Fields London, Schloss Schönbrunn Vienna, Teatro Della Maestranza Seville, New York University and the Recent projects here include music for a new DVD celebrating the centenary of the capital, “Imagining Canberra” (National Film and Sound Archive of Australia) and also for the exhibition “Glorious Days: Australia 1913” (National Museum of Australia).

Joanna Heslop, soprano and  Elaine Loebenstein, piano, at Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest, Wednesday May 29,  12.40pm to 1.20pm. Paper note entry or concession $2. Tickets at the door.