New ‘Dame Malvina’ Fund Helps Opera Singers ‘Take Flight'

The world-class New Zealand opera programme that realises the “dream” of Dame Malvina Major is solidifying its financial support base with the launch of a new public-facing endowment fund at the Waikato’s community foundation. 

Te Pae Kōkako The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio, or ‘TANZOS’, and Momentum Waikato launched the ‘TANZOS Dame Malvina Major Legacy Fund’ yesterday on 28 January 2026 to mark Dame Malvina’s 83rd birthday.

Made possible thanks to a founding donation from The Sir William and Lady Judi Gallagher Foundation.

Housed at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts as part of The University of Waikato, and developed and led since its founding in 2022 by soprano Madeleine Pierard, Te Pae Kōkako TANZOS is enjoying remarkable early success in its mission to vault the nation’s emerging opera singers into international professional careers.

Just one notable example is tenor Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, a 2023 graduate, who has joined the Jette Parker Artists Programme at The Royal Opera Covent Garden in London directly from Te Pae Kōkako TANZOS, the first New Zealander to successfully audition there without having first trained outside of New Zealand.

Madeleine Pierard says the new TANZOS Dame Malvina Major Legacy Fund at Momentum Waikato is a major step towards ensuring that Dame Malvina’s dream can go on forever.

"It has been an honour and privilege to form this programme here right here in the Waikato,” says Madeleine.

“As a young organisation, we are well-immersed in our immediate and ongoing fundraising efforts. After only three years, we're experiencing unprecedented international success for singers coming straight from New Zealand opera training, and a healthy international profile, which is wonderful but brings its own resourcing challenges.

“The landscape of arts funding in New Zealand is precarious, and we are determined to protect Dame Malvina's legacy by creating an endowment fund that will live on and reliably support the stability and future of this cultural jewel of the Waikato."

The new Fund has been made possible through a founding donation from The Sir William and Lady Judi Gallagher Foundation, reflecting Lady Judi’s long-time support for Dame Malvina’s vision for opera in New Zealand.

“It is a great privilege to be able to support this outstanding programme,” says Lady Judi.

“The TANZOS graduates are world class, and I believe will take the opera world by storm. We are honoured to be part of their journey.”

Madeleine says that support has been essential.

“TANZOS would not exist without the passion, belief, and generosity of Lady Judi and Sir William Gallagher. Their trust in our mission and in what this organisation can become is a profound vote of confidence, and one we hold with immense gratitude,” says Madeleine.

Janice Lapwood, Momentum Waikato’s General Manager Endowments, says the launch of the TANZOS Dame Malvina Major Legacy Fund is the latest example of the community foundation offering its ‘smart giving’ model to support the arts.

“With Dame Malvina recently cutting the ribbon on the BNZ Theatre we initiated, this new TANZOS Dame Malvina Major Legacy Fund is a lovely way of continuing to honour her remarkable achievements and vision,” says Janice.

Te Pae Kōkako, means ‘the perch of the Kōkako’, where it gathers in strength before taking flight. The name was gifted by Professor Tom Roa as Te Mata Ahurangi of The University of Waikato, referencing the Ngāti Apakura tale of their tupuna, Pikirangi, who had a pet kōkako he trained to sing a song full of meaning for his iwi.

The title reflects the purpose and potential of the programme.

“You might be ready but you never find that ‘door’. A programme like this gives the opportunity to a singer to know where the door is,” said Jack LiVigni, International Voice Teacher and Professor of Voice at Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in the United States, as an endorsement.

“Through the TANZOS programme, I have grown as a performer and as a person. The really big change for me is consistency,” says tenor Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, pictured above, the 2023 TANZOS artist now training at The Royal Opera at Covent Garden.

“From growing up in Flaxmere to stepping onto one of the world’s greatest opera stages, this is a dream come true. To now have the Royal Opera House as my training ground for the next two years is an incredible opportunity, and I plan to make the most of every moment.”

Te Pae Kōkako TANZOS currently receives financial and in-kind support, including for its students’ scholarships, from the Dame Malvina Major Foundation, The Sir William and Lady Judi Gallagher Foundation, the Freemasons Foundation, The University of Waikato and individual philanthropists.

The TANZOS Dame Malvina Major Legacy Fund will generate investment income as part of Momentum Waikato’s endowment portfolio, which will then be used to make grants to support Te Pae Kōkako TANZOS’ operations.

Donations to the new Fund are therefore the best way for opera fans everywhere to provide growing and ongoing support to New Zealand’s opera singers following in the footsteps of Dame Malvina Major into an international career.

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