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Deborah Cheetham is an Australian classical music composer, soprano, and educator. She was born on August 4, 1964, in the small town of Framlingham, Victoria, Australia. Cheetham is of Yorta Yorta descent, and her family has a long history of music-making. Her mother was a singer, and her grandfather was a well-known singer and composer in the Yorta Yorta community. Cheetham grew up in a musical household and began singing at a young age. She attended the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, where she studied voice and composition. After completing her studies, she began performing as a soprano in Australia and internationally. In addition to her work as a performer, Cheetham has also made significant contributions to the world of classical music as a composer. Her compositions draw on her Indigenous heritage and often explore themes of identity, culture, and history. She has been recognized for her work with numerous awards and honors, including the Order of Australia in 2014. One of Cheetham's most well-known works is her opera Pecan Summer, which premiered in 2010. The opera tells the story of the Cummeragunja Walk-Off, a protest by Indigenous Australians in 1939 against poor living conditions and mistreatment on a government reserve. Cheetham wrote the libretto and composed the music for the opera, which was the first opera by an Indigenous Australian woman to be staged. Another notable work by Cheetham is her song cycle Woven Song, which premiered in 2018. The cycle features settings of poems by Indigenous Australian poets, including Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Samuel Wagan Watson. The work was commissioned by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and was performed by Cheetham and the orchestra. Cheetham has also composed works for chamber ensembles, including her String Quartet No. 1, which premiered in 2015. The work was commissioned by the Australian String Quartet and draws on Cheetham's experiences growing up in Framlingham. In addition to her work as a composer, Cheetham is also an educator and advocate for Indigenous Australians in the arts. She founded the Short Black Opera Company in 2009, which provides training and performance opportunities for Indigenous Australian singers. She has also served as a mentor for young Indigenous Australian musicians and has been involved in numerous initiatives to promote Indigenous Australian culture and music. Cheetham's contributions to the world of classical music have been significant, both as a performer and a composer. Her work has helped to bring Indigenous Australian culture and history to a wider audience and has challenged traditional notions of what classical music can be. She continues to be an important voice in the world of classical music and an inspiration to young musicians and composers around the world.

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