Third Time Lucky For Tenor

It was third time lucky for tenor Brent Read who won the annual Sealord Aria competition at the Nelson School of Music on Saturday night – his third try at the prestigious contest.   
 
Now in its sixth year, the competition had seven contenders for the $3000 first prize.
 
Brent sang Je Croix Entendre Encore from The Pearl Fishers by Georges Bizet, and Now the Great Bear and Pleiades from Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten
 
Adjudicator, Roger Wilson, said he was looking for accuracy and credibility
 
“Brent made brave choices with both his arias, “ Wilson said. “ He carried off the shift into the high register flawlessly in the aria from the Pearl Fishers and was impressive in the technically difficult aria from Peter Grimes, where he had every note in place.”
 
Brent teaches at Puinui Primary School  and is studying music and education part-time at Auckland University.

Second place went to Wellington student Elitsa Kappatos, and third went to Christchurch soprano Judith Sivasubramaniam.  

ends