A new opera school focused on career preparation for talented New Zealand singers has been launched at the University of Waikato.
The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (Te Pae Kōkako) is the long-held vision of Dame Malvina Major (pictured), a New Zealand soprano and faculty member of the university.
Speaking to SunLive, Major said that she wanted to see New Zealand’s young opera stars trained in the country, rather than having to face the high costs and family separations of overseas training.
The school, which will open in 2023, will initially accept five promising young opera singers for the Master of Music program in Advanced Opera Studies.
Training will be provided by national and international tutors, and students will travel to residencies in New Zealand and overseas.
The programme will be headed by New Zealand soprano Madeleine Pierard, an internationally-recognised opera singer who has returned from London to join the school.
“Students will have regular performance opportunities, will prepare and perform three full opera roles and will receive career planning help,” Pierard says.
“The most unique aspect of the programme is that we will be providing industry connections for our singers with international companies and artists without them facing the crippling financial strain of studying at an overseas conservatoire.
“This programme will truly provide a springboard for Aotearoa’s stunning young singers and I am so pleased that we are able to bring this long-held vision of Dame Malvina to the fore.”
Places on the programme will be funded by donors, with the Dame Malvina Major Foundation leading the way by funding two places.
Image credit: SunLive
