By Richard Stoker

In just six years since moving to the far north with her husband Idris, Alteouise DeVaughn has generously shared her world renowned talent and global reputation as both performer and teacher to generate a wealth of culture and entertainment within the local Douglas Shire population.

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Always incredibly active, Alteouise has found time to become the Musical Director of the iconic Clink Theatre.  And apart from working on, ‘Black, My Story’, with its performance scheduled for 27th February, 2016, she is also coaching performers for the Douglas Theatre Arts Group’s production of, ‘Grease’, which will open at the ‘Clink’ of 29th March 2016.

Mezzo Soprano Alteouise DeVaughn’s father was a 6’2” military man who became a Baptist Minister with his own church in Southern California.  He attended Morehouse College with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and was part of the Civil Rights Movement. Alteouise’s mother was the daughter of a Baptist Minister, and also a Morehouse graduate.

Alteouise was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and the famed Julliard School of Music.

Ms DeVaughn made her debut in 1982 with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, in the leading role of ‘Orfeo’ in Gluck’s Orfeo et Euridice’.  Her performances were applauded with standing ovations.  Wide acclaim followed, leading to a career, initially in Italy, which took her all over the world.  The Opera Theatre of St. Louis is known for introducing new stars, its latest find is Alteouise’s son, Justin Michael Austin who sings Baritone.  The company is unaware of the connection, even though there‘s a picture of Alteouise behind the President’s desk.

In 1986 with the Paris Opera, Alteouise was taught French diction by the world renowned linguist Madam Fajard.

In 2007, Alteouise was with the New York Harlem Opera Theater’s European tour of Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’.  It was in Trieste on this ‘one of many tours with different companies’ that she met Idris Alkamraikhi, then the assistant manager.  He played the only white part (The Detective).  It was ‘Love at first Vibrato’ as after many evening performances, Idris played guitar and Alteouise sang, and they haven’t stopped doing this in the ensuing nine years, much to their neighbour’s delight.

Opera Australia contracted Alteouise to be a part if their 2012-13 season, with performances in Sydney and Melbourne.  The offer came while Alteouise was waiting for her Application for Australian Residency to be processed.  The interim Bridging Visa was amended to allow her to work in Australia.

In the last five years Alteouise has performed overseas several times each year, but due to pupil demand and commitments to her beloved Far North Queensland, she has reduced her overseas performances considerably.  However, she recently made one exception when she was delighted to attend her daughter’s wedding in Cancun, Mexico.

Ms DeVaughn voluntarily directs six choirs from Cairns to Cooktown and the Atherton Tablelands, including a children’s choir.  One of the choirs in the Tablelands is a group of predominately Italian women from St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Dimbulah.  They repay her by helping improve her Italian.  The constant car travelling to the different areas is in itself a Herculean task.  On the first Sunday in December each year, the choirs are massed together for a concert at St Mary’s Catholic Church at Craiglie, to perform as the Tropical Queensland Oratorio Society.  Handel’s ‘Messiah’ is the featured piece, including the famous ‘Hallelujah Chorus’.

Her love of passionate music will be on display when she joins forces with the Voices of the North Choir at the end of February to present an incredible night of African American music history. Do not miss ‘Black, My Story,’ at The Clink, Port Douglas February 26th and 27th.

Click here to view the calendar of events at The Clink Feb/March Clink Theatre Calendar