NZ Order of Merit recipients have Hawkes Bay connection

Hawkes Bay’s NZ Singing School Trust is very proud to be associated with two 2016 Queens Honours recipients – Dr Haruhisa Handa and Professor Judy Bellingham.

Professor Bellingham, Artistic Director of the IFAC Handa New Zealand Singing School, was awarded a NZ Order of Merit for services to classical singing. As the Artistic Director and a Tutor at the biennial residential New Zealand Singing School, held in Napier, Professor Bellingham has provided an opportunity for young singers with significant potential to receive tuition and mentoring from internationally and nationally-recognised teachers. Professor Bellingham has held this position at the Singing School since 2005 and is also currently the William Evans Associate Professor in Voice at the University of Otago’s Music Department.

Dr Haruhisa Handa, from the International Foundation of Arts and Culture (IFAC), Japan, was awarded an Honorary NZ Order of Merit. Dr Handa is the founder of IFAC, which is Principal Sponsor of the IFAC Handa New Zealand Singing School. IFAC is a non-profit organisation established for the purposes of promoting social welfare activities through musical and arts-related events. IFAC focuses on excellence and bringing the arts into the lives of as many people as possible, especially the young.

“The IFAC Handa NZ Singing School is honoured to be the first New Zealand arts organisation to receive IFAC’s financial support, and is privileged to name Dr Handa as Principal Patron of the New Zealand Singing School,” says John Hudson, Strategic Chair of the NZ Singing School Trust.

“With the help of IFAC’s sponsorship, the School offers unsurpassed learning opportunities for students to work with an outstanding faculty who come from around the world to be involved in the programme.”

“Through one-to-one sessions, public masterclasses and ensemble activities, every student has a chance to perform as a soloist and as part of a group, accomplishing a high level of confidence and professionalism in their performance,” says John.

The next Singing School will be held from 5th to 15th of January 2017 at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Taradale. Students aged 16 years and over who have had 3 years singing tuition are welcome to apply. The application process includes submission of a resume with highest educational qualification, vocal training and performance experience to date and an audition video file featuring the applicant singing two songs. Applications close on 31st August 2016, with successful applicants advised in early October. The School’s fee is $1,695 per student.

For further information or to enrol online, visit www.singingschool.org.nz

ENDS

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