Queen's Birthday present for Margaret Medlyn

Queen's Birthday present for Margaret Medlyn

The Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours List 2012 has confirmed the depth of expertise in the teaching staff at Te Kōkī, New Zealand School of Music.

Margaret Medlyn, Head of Classical Performance Voice at NZSM, has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in recognition of her services to opera.

Following study at the University of Auckland, Margaret made her operatic debut in London and went on to sing at prestigious United Kingdom and European opera houses including English National Opera, Covent Garden and Vienna State Opera. She has performed with all the Australian and New Zealand opera companies and for several New Zealand International Art Festivals, including an acclaimed performance as Kundry in the 2006 NZIAF production of Parsifal with Sir Donald MacIntyre and Simon O'Neill. Later this year she will take the role of Fricka in the a forthcoming stage production of Wagner's Die Walkure in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

"The award came as a complete surprise to me," Margaret admits. "I have always been involved with music – my mother, Irene Medlyn, established the Playhouse in Glen Eden and directed the Auckland Children's Light Opera and of course my sister, Helen, is also engaged in a career in singing. Our father supported us then and now my husband Roger is my best supporter AND critic! In many ways I feel that I'm receiving this for my family."

Margaret has also recorded extensively with Radio New Zealand, and is a champion of New Zealand composers with three CDs released including Burning Bright, a recording of works by four women composers. She began teaching at NZSM in 2007 and joined the permanent staff last year. Her particular interests are in the areas of psychology of performance and the embodiment of the operatic voice. While teaching at NZSM, she is also involved in the development of young singers from throughout New Zealand, tutoring at the New Zealand Opera School and working with NBR Opera New Zealand's Emerging Artists as well as continuing her own highly successful singing career.

Margaret is the 'closest to home' honorary in the Queen's Birthday list, but NZSM also extends its warmest congratulations to several other musicians who have an association with the School and its staff and students.

• Dame Malvina Major, GNZM, DBE, of Hamilton has been made a Member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ). This is New Zealand's highest honour given “to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand....”. Dame Malvina needs little introduction and many of our students have benefited through the foundation and patronage she has given to operatic endeavours in this country.
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• Dr Roderick Deane of Wellington has been made a Knight Companion to the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) for services to business and the community. Roderick and his wife Gillian have for many years been generous and highly supportive patrons of the arts including many NZSM students and staff and our performance events.
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• Mr Michael Houstoun of Feilding has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for his services as a pianist. Michael, who was made an honorary doctorate of Victoria University in 2010, recently gave a sell-out performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations in the Adam Concert Room. He is also an unstinting and generous artist with a long association with the School.
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• Mr Edward (Ed) Allen of Martinborough has been made a Member of the New Zealand order of Merit (MNZM) for his services to music. Ed has only recently retired from a long career as principal horn in the NZSO and has for many years been one of the outstanding artist teachers that enrich NZSM's teaching programme.

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