Students rapt with rare Christmas presence

Students rapt with rare Christmas presence

From Dunedin to Auckland’s North Shore, young singers chosen for the country’s only intensive residential opera school are packing their bags this Christmas and heading for Whanganui, where they will advance their craft in the presence of leading international tutors. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, whose Foundation supports the International Vocal Faculty at the school, will visit for the first time and personally hold masterclasses with the 22 students.

“Dame Kiri is a font of knowledge,” says Auckland-based Helene Holman, a young mezzo-soprano and all-round stage performer. “She will have something to give to all of us. I’m hoping the school will help me build the confidence to stand out from the crowd and be the artist I want to be.”

As an emerging artist with New Zealand Opera, tenor Filipe Manu has sung chorus and minor roles in most of the company’s productions over the last two years, and he is pleased to be returning to the opera school for the fourth time for this special semester. Having appeared on-stage with Dame Kiri, he is looking forward to the personal tuition. “Every time I go to the school I learn something more that I can build on,” he says. “I’m consistently progressing. It’s a good way to start the year.”

Harry Grigg is a young tenor from Christchurch who observed the school last year and became determined to qualify for attending in 2016. “It’s a great opportunity to get different perspectives on where my voice is at. It’s not often 22 people with the same drive can get together to collaborate. It would be so good to get on Dame Kiri’s radar – she’s amazing.”

Dame Kiri’s public event will take place on Friday 15 January when, in conversation with Rodney Macann at Wanganui Collegiate, she will talk about her life in opera and her passion for developing the talents of young singers. (Tickets, costing just $15, are now on sale from the Royal Wanganui Opera House.) Dame Kiri will also be the guest of honour at the school’s gala concert at the Royal Wanganui Opera House on Saturday 16 January.

Students will be in residence from 4 -17 January, and, along with their tutors and the Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists , will engage with the community through performances in cafés, a lunchtime concert and a series of masterclasses. These will involve New Zealand’s most successful international tenor Simon O’Neill, Prof Håkan Hagegård, and dynamic Welsh soprano Della Jones. They will be complemented by members of the Freemasons Music Faculty including Isabel Cunningham, Sharolyn Kimmorley, Terence Dennis and Bruce Greenfield.

Limited tickets are available in advance to the events, except Dame Kiri’s masterclass which will be for students only. All proceeds go towards supporting the New Zealand Opera School and the teaching programme which is free-of-charge to the students.

School director Jonathan Alver says all their Christmases have come at once for the students. “Little did they know when they applied, from all over New Zealand, that they would be able to meet and learn from one of the world’s legendary opera stars. They are absolutely rapt.”

ENDS

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