Since graduating from the ANU School of Music in 2015, Kirrah Amosa’s star has been on the rise.

The multi-talented Australian-Samoan performer not only sings, acts, and dances – she writes her own songs, produces her music and plays a few instruments.

Kirrah’s abilities in singing and acting have been particularly visible over the past few years, with leading roles in Australian productions of some of the world’s most recognisable musicals: Elphaba in Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz, Joanne in Rent, and understudying for Rachel Marron and Rachel's sister Nicki Marron in The Bodyguard. In 2021, Kirrah achieved her biggest role yet – or rather, roles.

This was the year that the smash-hit Hamilton came to Australia. Kirrah was cast as the standby for all three of the Schuyler sisters – Eliza, Angelica, Peggy – as well as Maria Reynolds. She went on to take the stage in a number of these roles across the run of the show.

In addition to just sheer talent and hard work, Kirrah attributes her success to the connections she’s made, both at ANU and as she’s gone about her career. 

“There are definitely things I’ve learned theory-wise that are so useful now as a composer and as a performer. When I’m going in and learning shows and reading music, I know exactly what I’m doing because of my degree.”

She adds: “I’m lucky that I studied the foundation of the genres I’m performing in now, and interested in. Jazz is really inspired by R’n’B, contemporary, and soul, and that’s what I’m performing and writing in.”

Kirrah has done a lot to make her own opportunities over the years – from writing and performing with her bands Kaleid, ERAH and Tuchasoul, to maintaining an active presence on social media and YouTube, and much more besides.

“I think there was a period when I thought opportunities would come to me,” Kirrah says.

“But I got tired of waiting and really quite restless. It wasn’t until I finished university and opportunities stopped knocking on my door that I started knocking on theirs.”