Dame Malvina Major Foundation Wellington Aria won by NZSM graduate
NZSM students and graduates cleaned up at the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Wellington Aria competition, held on 18 September.
The winner of the Rosina Buckman Trophy and Dame Malvina Major Foundation Wellington Aria ($4,000) was NZSM graduate Frederick Jones (pictured right, with runner up Sophie Sparrow on the left, and Martin Snell, centre).
Frederick Jones took out the first prize ahead of a field of 18 contestants. A graduate from Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music in 2013, Frederick has just completed a Master of Arts in Advanced Vocal Studies with Distinction at the Wales International Academy of Voice, studying with internationally renowned tenor, Dennis ONeill. He heads to Australia in November to take up a scholarship at the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School at Griffith University.
Other NZSM students who won awards were William King, who won the Patricia Hurley Opera Tours Italian prize, and Joe Haddow, who received the Robin Dumbell Memorial Trophy for Young Aria entrant with most potential. Pasquale Orchard also won both the Rokfire Cup for most outstanding competitor and the Grahame Gillespie Memorial Cup (18-21 years).
Adjudicator and acclaimed New Zealand tenor Martin Snell, himself a previous winner of the competition, said it was a pleasure to hear some of the country’s emerging talent and the diverse range of repertoire that was performed.
“The overall standard was thrilling to witness, particularly to both see and hear the improvement in performances over the course of the competitions in response to my positive, constructive critical assessments of earlier classes.
“The award of principal prizes was both difficult and challenging, particularly as awarded marks were very close throughout. One can regard the future of the competitors with considerable admiration, pride and confidence.”