Robert Dawe is an accomplished singer in opera, oratorio and on the concert platform. His career has spanned more than 40 years and concert appearances for the ABC alone total over 150.

He has given well over 150 ABC radio broadcasts and is featured on several LP recordings, including Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Wilfred Josephs' Hebrew Requiem and Gilbert & Sullivan Selections. A student of the late Arnold Matters he was awarded many scholarships and awards, including the coveted gold medal at Royal South Street, Ballarat. During a study trip to the U.K. in 1971 he was invited to study with Norman Feasey at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, sang with the Ambrosian Singers and was an 'ad hoc' member of the BBC Singers.

His numerous oratorio appearances range from Handel's Messiah and the Bach Passions to Britten's War Requiem and he regularly appears in all Australian capital cities. He is regarded as an Elijah of distinction, having sung the role countless times in every major concert venue in this country. Major concert performances have included Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Kindertotenlieder of Mahler (the former with Swedish contralto Birgit Finnila), the Sibelius Kullervo Symphony and Sea Drift by Delius. Other career highlights include a tour of 'Me Dream of Gerontius', conducted by Sir David Willcocks and singing the role of Christus to Peter Schreier's Evangelist in the St. Matthew Passion.

Prior to 1996, Robert Dawe appeared in every Adelaide Festival in opera, concerts or recitals, in works ranging from The Play of Daniel (singing with the Deller Consort), to Britten's Curlew River, and to a concert performance of the Berlioz opera, Beatrice and Benedict. Throughout his career, he has sung under more than 40 international conductors. He has performed at several Sydney and Perth Arts festivals and has been a guest of choral societies in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Robert Dawe has been a part time lecturer in voice at the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide since 1981. He is also choir master and voice teacher at Prince Alfred College and Marbury School. In 1989 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (O.A.M.) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

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