Carrie was born in Adelaide to a very musical family. Her father, Murray Barr as a youngster, played the ukelele and sang. He also played the fife in the Adelaide Fife Band and had his own radio program with his cousin Alan, where they sang old ditties to the listener’s. When he was growing up, there was a tradition in his household to play and sing songs around the piano every Friday night. Carrie’s dad kept this tradition going when she was growing up. Murray bought a pianola for 40 pounds and from that day, music filled the Barr household.
Her mother, Avis Barr loved singing and in 1947 sang in ‘Iolanthe’ with The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of S.A.’ 40 years later Carrie sang in ‘The Gondoliers’ with the same company.
From the age of 4 Carrie was drawn to the piano and she has fond memories of her dad tap dancing next to her as she accompanied him on the piano. Carrie started serious piano lessons when she was 7. Sadly, Carrie’s dad passed away when she was 9 years old, but her love of music remained strong.
Carrie continued to pursue her piano studies through High School. However, at the age of 15 she discovered she could ‘really’ sing and she began taking lessons with a vocal teacher. During her high school years Carrie seized the opportunities to be involved in the musical programs at school; she sang with the school choir, small vocal groups as well as taking roles in school productions. It was therefore, a natural progression for Carrie to follow her passion as a music student to University. At the University of Adelaide Carrie studied a Bachelor of Music in voice with piano as her second instrument. In first year besides studying Carrie spent the majority of her time accompanying the brass players and singing in the jazz choir. During second year she became fascinated in theatre, acting and classical singing and more of her time was spent in these areas. As a new graduate in 1986 at the age of 21 Carrie secured her first professional role with the State Opera Company of South Australia performing in Sweeney Todd. During this period of time her days were hectic: voice overs and jingles, rehearsals and performances for the State Opera Company, music theatre productions as well as working as a candy bar girl at the Academy Cinema.
The next year Carrie flew to Sydney for the Les Miserables auditions. This was to be a pivotal moment in her life. Carrie successfully auditioned for the part of understudy to Cosette which was played by Marina Prior. Some six months later Marina left the show and Carrie took over the role which she played for the remaining 6 months of the original 1988 Sydney season. Carrie’s life in the professional music industry was transformed and as they say in the classics, “the rest is history”.
Carrie’s professional career steadily advanced, with her playing many of the lead soubrette roles in Music Theatre for the next decade or so. In 1997 she performed in Les Miserables for the second time but in Auckland, New Zealand. During this time Carrie’s interest in Opera was re-awakened. During her days she studied voice at the Auckland Conservatorium and began to realize her operatic potential. This was another turning point in Carrie’s professional life.
When she returned to Australia after touring, she began studying classical voice with Anna Connolly. Carrie successfully moved into singing operatic repertoire, earning her work with Opera Australia, starting with Oz Opera School's Co, then advancing to main stage productions.
Since then, Carrie has performed in approximately 30 operas with Opera Australia over the past 16 years and continues to perform with them today. For the past decade, Carrie has been teaching voice at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and enjoys passing on her knowledge and professional experience to her students.
Her mother, Avis Barr loved singing and in 1947 sang in ‘Iolanthe’ with The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of S.A.’ 40 years later Carrie sang in ‘The Gondoliers’ with the same company.
From the age of 4 Carrie was drawn to the piano and she has fond memories of her dad tap dancing next to her as she accompanied him on the piano. Carrie started serious piano lessons when she was 7. Sadly, Carrie’s dad passed away when she was 9 years old, but her love of music remained strong.
Carrie continued to pursue her piano studies through High School. However, at the age of 15 she discovered she could ‘really’ sing and she began taking lessons with a vocal teacher. During her high school years Carrie seized the opportunities to be involved in the musical programs at school; she sang with the school choir, small vocal groups as well as taking roles in school productions. It was therefore, a natural progression for Carrie to follow her passion as a music student to University. At the University of Adelaide Carrie studied a Bachelor of Music in voice with piano as her second instrument. In first year besides studying Carrie spent the majority of her time accompanying the brass players and singing in the jazz choir. During second year she became fascinated in theatre, acting and classical singing and more of her time was spent in these areas. As a new graduate in 1986 at the age of 21 Carrie secured her first professional role with the State Opera Company of South Australia performing in Sweeney Todd. During this period of time her days were hectic: voice overs and jingles, rehearsals and performances for the State Opera Company, music theatre productions as well as working as a candy bar girl at the Academy Cinema.
The next year Carrie flew to Sydney for the Les Miserables auditions. This was to be a pivotal moment in her life. Carrie successfully auditioned for the part of understudy to Cosette which was played by Marina Prior. Some six months later Marina left the show and Carrie took over the role which she played for the remaining 6 months of the original 1988 Sydney season. Carrie’s life in the professional music industry was transformed and as they say in the classics, “the rest is history”.
Carrie’s professional career steadily advanced, with her playing many of the lead soubrette roles in Music Theatre for the next decade or so. In 1997 she performed in Les Miserables for the second time but in Auckland, New Zealand. During this time Carrie’s interest in Opera was re-awakened. During her days she studied voice at the Auckland Conservatorium and began to realize her operatic potential. This was another turning point in Carrie’s professional life.
When she returned to Australia after touring, she began studying classical voice with Anna Connolly. Carrie successfully moved into singing operatic repertoire, earning her work with Opera Australia, starting with Oz Opera School's Co, then advancing to main stage productions.
Since then, Carrie has performed in approximately 30 operas with Opera Australia over the past 16 years and continues to perform with them today. For the past decade, Carrie has been teaching voice at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and enjoys passing on her knowledge and professional experience to her students.