Australian soprano Margaret Josephine Nisbett has died at the age of 94.

Born in Preston, Victoria, as a child she performed small concerts at home with her sister and at her local Church of England. She went on to study piano and singing with Thelma Ford when she was nine years old. Her first five years of training saw her compete in The Royal South Street Competition. While working as a typist upon leaving school, Nisbett continued her work as a singer and competed in many singing competitions and performed at concerts.

She joined the National Theatre School where she studied opera for two years. In 1947, she broke out when she replaced the leading soprano at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in the role of Gilda in “Rigoletto.” Her performance immediately established her as a rising star.

In 1951, she won the Mobil Quest prize and toured Australia with conductor Hector Crawford. The prize also included the opportunity to study opera overseas and, in 1954, she departed for England where she continued studies under Dino Borgioli and Clive Carey.

She went on to perform in many opera companies including London’s Sadlers Wells where she was the leading lady for eight years.

Nisbett returned to Australia in late 1962 and in 1965, she was approached by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to perform a series of operas for TV, with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

She would become a leading soprano at the Melbourne Opera and toured in Canada and the USA.

Her repertoire included Adele in “Die Fledermaus,” Gilda in “Rigoletto,” and Susanna in “The Marriage of Figaro.” She also performed cabaret at various interstate clubs and major venues.

Among the awards Nisbett was recognized for are the Member of the Order of the British Empire and the  City of Preston Community Services Award for her musical contribution to the community.