Kelly Lim Harris
SINGER | ACTRESS | CABARET ARTIST
My Story
01
Where it all began...
Growing up in New Zealand, I often felt caught between my parents' worlds - East and West, privileged and underprivileged, belonging everywhere and nowhere.
Music was my refuge. I devoured everything that came my way - from Debussy, to The Doors, to Dean Martin, to Disney. At age six I competed in my first singing competition, did my first professional recording at seven, and was selected as a soloist at Kids for Kids age eight.
02
The Overachieving Schoolgirl
In high school, that feeling of not belonging pushed me to pour myself into a poetic life. That drive earnt me a Top Scholar Award, a full university scholarship, time spent studying in France, and the opportunity to perform at the Globe Theatre in London.
I took academics seriously, but after school I’d escape to Opera Factory, a magical little theatre where I honed my stagecraft and discovered where my heart felt at home.
03
A Wish in Rome
Heart over head, I completed a conjoint degree in Classical Voice Performance and European Studies, blending my passions for music, art, culture, and languages.
I performed as a soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia, played the title role in L'enfant et les sortilèges, spent a summer singing at Auckland Art Gallery, and performed Shakespeare at the Pop-up Globe. The cherry on top was a scholarship to study in Venice, Italy.
Though I found success, I felt suffocated by the world of opera. Whilst visiting Rome, I made a wish at the Trevi Fountain - that a new path would fall into place when I returned home. And it did.
04
On the Road
The week I graduated, I landed my first break as a Principal Resident Artist with a touring company. I spent my days living out of a suitcase, travelling around New Zealand, and with international engagements in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, Japan, Bali, and Australia.
From time to time, schedules would align, allowing side projects such as voicing 'Eel' in Hana the Glowworm for the Auckland Philharmonia and performing for New Zealand Opera.
05
Crossing the Ditch
After countless hours spent on tour buses and planes, I was ready for new dreams. Australia had the doors - and WAAPA would open them.
I landed a place at the world-renowned Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in their Diploma of Musical Theatre. The last song I sang on my final contract in NZ (Thank You For the Music), just so happened to be the first we sang at WAAPA. How's that for a segue?
There, I spent a glorious year totally devoted to my craft - singing, dancing, acting, and perhaps most pivotally, learning to create my own work.
06
A New Era
On our last day at WAAPA we were presented with the goals we had written ourselves at the start of the year.
1. Come up with an idea for a solo show. I would be debuting my show Yellow Fever: An Original Musical Cabaret at FRINGE WORLD January 2026.
2. Get an agent in Australia That morning I signed the paperwork with my wonderful Aussie agents.
3. Consistently land a triple pirouette. Still working on this one...
It seems everything had fallen into place.
Now it's back into the big wide world for me, a new chapter, a new vision for my life, a new excitement bubbling in my heart.
Thank you for being here.
Kelly x
