Hester graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Graduate Diploma of Vocal Studies and a Graduate Diploma of Opera Studies.  She is an Associate of The Royal College of Music, a Licentiate of Trinity College London and was also awarded an AMEB Licentiate Diploma of Music.   During her studies in Brisbane, she performed the roles of Madame Flora in Menotti’s ‘The Medium’, the Angel in a staged version of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Le Prince Charmant in Massenet’s ‘Cendrillon’ and understudied the role of the Witch in Humperdinck’s ‘Hansel and Gretel’ with Opera Queensland.  Hester was awarded first prize in Australia's most prestigious singing competition, The McDonald’s Aria. She travelled to London to further her studies and while there, performed the title role in Donizetti’s ‘Anna Bolena’, Miss Jessel in Britten’s “The Turn of the Screw", Laetitia in Menotti’s ‘The Old Maid and the Thief’, and Dido in Purcell’s ‘Dido and Aeneas’. On the concert platform, Hester has sung the soprano solos for Handel’s Messiah and Solomon, Bach’s St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, Magnificat and Cantata BWV 51, Gounod's Messe Solennelle as well as Vivaldi’s motet Nulla in Mondo Pax Sincera. Hester has also been the recipient of a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, the Griffith University Bach Prize, the Elizabeth Muir Prize and the Doris Smith Scholarship. In 2001, Hester received a nomination for The City of Newcastle Dramatic Awards (CONDAs) for best professional actress for her role as Lucy in the Sound Construction Company’s production of Menotti’s ‘The Telephone’ .In 2002 she performed the role of Gilda in Hunter Opera’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto and also recorded the vocals for the CD ‘King Hit’ by Australian composer M. Ottley which was released in the US by ‘Eyesore records’. In 2005, she continued her association with Ottley,  working on a recording of a new work funded by the Australian Arts Council and Australian Literature Board. Hester freelances with Opera Australia and has performed in  Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg,  Otello, Cunning Little Vixen and Der Rosenkavalier. In 2004, she performed the role of the Countess in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" for Hunter Opera which toured to regional Queensland in 2005. Hester has been a member of The Tall Poppeas since early 2003, performing both in The Tall Poppeas' concert series and the role of Passiona in its production of Troppo Amore at the Darlinghurst Theatre and Melbourne Fringe Festival. She is delighted to continue her involvement with this vibrant and exciting group.