A NOTE FROM DAME MALVINA MAJOR We set up The Dame Malvina Major

Foundation in 1991 to enable young

performers of talent to achieve their

potential. It was about giving back what I had

been given as a young singer to allow me to follow my

dream of becoming an opera star. Today my vision to “Share

the Dream” continues to underpin everything The

Foundation does to support young New Zealanders across

the whole spectrum of the performing arts.

Our involvement goes much further than signing a cheque

and wishing these young artists well. Where we see talent

we offer not only financial assistance, but professional

guidance and support in their emerging careers. Many of

the young artists in whom we saw early promise are today

making names for themselves and for New Zealand on the

world stage – among them Sol3Mio’s Moses Mackay and

Pene and Amatai Pati, and ballet dancer Tasman Davids, the

first New Zealander to train at the Vaganova Ballet Academy

in St Petersburg.

I am indebted to my fellow Trustees and the regional

committees for their generosity, passion and tireless energy.

It has been another busy year with concerts held across the

country to showcase and support our young artists, many at

Ryman Healthcare Retirement Villages. A highlight was the

magnificent concert organised with Friends of the Opera

Wellington at Government House in June.

We have been delighted to once again award first prizes at

the NZ Aria in Rotorua, as well as in regional competitions in

Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch, and runner up prize

in the Lexus Song Quest. The Greenlea Foundation Trust,

through Peter and Joan Egan, has generously awarded

grants for outstanding music students at Waikato University

as well as providing prizes in the Waikato University Aria

competition. I am hugely encouraged by their support.

And this year our Arts Excellence Awards have recognised

emerging artists from across the performing arts – among

them two violists, a violinist, jazz guitarist, flautist, clarinet

player, pianist and a number of talented singers.

As a charitable trust, we rely on and hugely value the

support of donors, sponsors and partners. I urge you all to

share my dream by helping the Foundation continue to

support New Zealand’s young performers through your

donations, memorial scholarships and legacies.

RhapsodySummer 2014/15

News from The Dame Malvina Major Foundation

DAME MALVINA MAJOR AWARDED A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Dame Malvina was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at

the Women of Influence Awards 2014 in Auckland in October.

Dame Malvina’s award recognises her success as one of New

Zealand’s finest and most loved opera singers and a tireless

worker in the community. Judge Dame Rosanne Meo said she

had been a giant figure in New Zealand and abroad in the Arts.

“Not only has she been one of our finest cultural exports, but

she has been a tireless and selfless supporter in nurturing the

generations that have followed her path. She has also raised

literally millions of dollars in over 30 years of charitable work.”

In his speech, Prime Minister John Key congratulated Dame

Malvina, endorsing Judge Meo’s comments on her life and work.

ARIA SUCCESS FOR ISABELLA

Three regional Dame Malvina Major Foundation Aria

Competitions were held in 2014, with the winners going on to

compete in the NZ Aria held recently in Rotorua.

Congratulations to soprano Isabella Moore (pictured below)

who won not only the Christchurch and Dunedin competitions,

but took out The Dame Malvina Major Foundation first prize

at the NZ Aria. Congratulations also to baritone Christian

Thurston who won the Wellington Aria.

The Foundation also provided the runner-up prize in the

Lexus Song Quest, which was awarded to baritone Benson

Wilson, and, through the Greenlea Foundation Trust, prizes in

the Waikato University Aria competition.

“For these talented young performers, the opportunity to

perform and participate in these prestigious competitions is

invaluable as they prepare for a professional career. For The

Foundation, it is very rewarding to invest in the next generation

of aspiring young opera singers,” says Dame Malvina.

NZ Aria 2014. Photo: Tony Whitehead

www.damemalvinamajorfoundation.org

Rachelle Pike in the 2014 NZ Opera production of La Traviata.Photo: Neil MacKenzie

RACHELLE PIKE: CHASING THAT TINGLY FEELING

Current Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Young Artist and

recipient of a range of awards and scholarships from The

Dame Malvina Major Foundation, mezzo soprano Rachelle

Pike returned from New York over winter to perform in La

Traviata for NZ Opera and in the fundraiser concert at

Government House. Here, she shares her path to success.

How did you get into opera? I started singing with my school

choir as a way to avoid my PE classes! From there I went on to

university where I saw and heard my first opera. It took me a

while, but eventually I fell deeply in love with it.

How has The Dame Malvina Major Foundation helped

you on that path? The Foundation is the reason I made

it on to the path! Firstly, as an Emerging Artist and then

through their support of various competitions and awards.

The Foundation’s financial support was part of a small

village of supporters that it took to get me overseas. It is an

overwhelming task if you don’t come from a wealthy family,

but I was lucky enough to make up my own family if you will!

What has been your career highlight to date? The night

I got to stand in for Carmel Carrol in one of the final dress

rehearsals in NZ Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor while I was

an Emerging Artist was magical. I remember putting on her

costume, how it made my skin tingle, getting to sing with the

lead soprano in my arms as she was going crazy, and how

I had to hold back tears of joy to be singing on that stage.

I thought it was the best day of my life! I chase that tingly

feeling every day now.

SIBLING HARMONY

Their musical talents have seen them hone their crafts in

different corners of the world, but Christchurch siblings Todd

and Bryony Gibson-Cornish always love when they can

perform together.

21-year-old violist Bryony and 19-year-old bassoonist Todd

last had the opportunity when they performed at a Dame

Malvina Major Foundation fundraiser in Christchurch last year.

A 2014 and 2012 recipient of The Dame Malvina Major

Foundation Christchurch Arts Excellence Award, Bryony is

a former student of the Pettman National Junior Academy

of Music in Christchurch, where she was mentored by Dame

Malvina. She is currently completing a Master of Music at the

prestigious Juilliard School in New York and plans to audition

for its doctorate programme in February. Last year she was

one of only 19 students to be invited to attend the Taos

School of Music in New Mexico as 2013 Young Concert Artist

and is the Auckland Philharmonia’s Young Soloist of the Year

for 2014.

Todd received a Dame Malvina Major Foundation

Christchurch Arts Excellence Award in 2013, towards his

study for a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the Royal College

of Music in London where he received the Queen Elizabeth

the Queen Mother Scholarship. Todd has toured with the

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and most recently has

played with London Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia

Orchestra – an outstanding achievement for someone so

young.

What are you dreams for the future? This. I want to be living

this exact life. Ideally I’ll remain based in New York, and be

able to travel home and other places from there. Singing

in strange places, meeting new people and making this

beautiful music. And, I’d like to be able to comfortably pay my

rent every month!

Rachelle returns to perform a lead role in NZ Opera’s

production of La cenerentola (Cinderella) by Rossini in 2015.

KEEPING IN TOUCH We would like to communicate with you by email.

This would include sending future copies of our Rhapsody newsletter and other news and information about the Foundation. Please send your email address to: dame_malvina_major_foundation@xtra.co.nz and include your name and postal address. Thanks!

In July, with support from The Canterbury Community Trust,

we awarded a total of $20,000 to five worthy recipients

of 2014 Arts Excellence Awards – Samuel Blakelock, jazz

guitarist; Bryony Gibson-Cornish, violist; Andrew Grenon,

tenor; Marcus Norman, clarinetist and Hugh Roberts, flautist.

In September we held a benefit concert for Andrew Grenon

to support his studies in Wales. We are planning another

fundraiser for 28 November at Diana Isaac Ryman Retirement

Village. Our most exciting news is that we are to host a Gala at

the fully restored Isaac Theatre Royal on Saturday 11 July 2015

– mark your diaries.

// DUNEDIN The Dunedin Committee was proud to sponsor Elizabeth

Mandeno to play the role of Jane Kendall in Opera Otago’s

production of This Other Eden. Elizabeth was a 2013/14

Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist with NZ Opera.

FROM THE REGIONS

// AUCKLANDThe Auckland Committee has had a busy year beginning with

a stunning concert featuring Dame Malvina at Massey High

School. This was a resounding success and raised in excess

of $7,000. Our next venture was the Arts Excellence Awards

held in August. The standard was extremely high so choosing

the three finalists was a tough decision. Our adjudicator,

concert organist and composer John Wells, awarded the

prizes to soprano Madison Nonoa ($3,000), pianist Jane Koo

($1,000) and violinist Lauren Bennett ($1,000).

In August, Dame Malvina and students from Waikato

University performed in a concert at the Sir Edmund Hilary

Ryman Retirement Village raising another $4,000.

// WAIKATOThe Waikato Committee recently announced its Arts

Excellence Awards for 2014, giving $2,000 each to three

young talented performers: soprano Eliza Boom, baritone

Jonathan Eyres and violinist Olivia Francis. We recently held a

fundraising concert at Rannoch House in Auckland featuring

some of the University of Waikato’s most outstanding

students.

// WELLINGTONA major focus for the Wellington Committee this year was

the joint fundraiser with Friends of the Opera at Government

House in June. The event was wonderfully supported and

guests were delighted with Dame Malvina and the young

artists, Rachelle Pike, Oliver Sewell, and Sarah-Jane Rennie,

with close to $12,000 raised in total. In July we held an

afternoon showcase at the Malvina Major Ryman Retirement

Village with Dame Malvina performing alongside Bianca

Andrew and Christian Thurston. Former Chief Executive of the

NZSO Peter Walls and former Manager of the New Zealand

String Quartet Rose Campbell adjudicated our recent Arts

Excellence Awards, awarding $5,000 to Alice McIvor, violist.

// CHRISTCHURCHThe Christchurch Committee held a showcase in April

featuring a range of young artists, all of whom are successfully

pursuing their careers.

Dame Malvina with (from left) Oliver Sewell, Sarah-Jane Rennie and Rachelle Pike

April showcase, from left: Tony Lin, pianist, Cheuky Chan, accompanist, Polly Ott, soprano, Andrew Grenon, tenor and Thomas Eves, trumpeter

NEW BREED OF TALENT FOR EMERGING ARTISTS PROGRAMME

Five emerging talents have been handpicked for NZ Opera’s

internship programme as Freemasons Dame Malvina Major

Emerging Artists for 2014/2015.

Each will spend up to six months with NZ Opera, taking part

in productions and getting vocal, stagecraft and language

coaching along with a range of other opportunities.

“The Emerging Artists programme is, in my view, world class.

It gives young artists performance, repetiteur, language and

understudy work at a level not replicated anywhere,” says

Dame Malvina.

Emerging Artists 2014/15 - from left, back row: baritone Jarvis Dams, tenor Filipe Manu, baritone Christian Thurston, front: sopranos Emily Scott & Chelsea Dolman. photo: Oliver Rosser

www.damemalvinamajorfoundation.org

DONATIONS

I would like to donate $ ............................... to The Dame Malvina Major Foundation.

Name..................................................................................................................................................... Tel.......................................................................

Address................................................................................................................................................ Postcode...........................................................

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I would like to pay by:

internet banking date deposited: .................................................

(please deposit into our account The Dame Malvina Major Foundation 060594 0077477 00 with your surname as reference)

cheque (please make payable to The Dame Malvina Major Foundation)

Please return (with cheque payment if appropriate) to: Trust Administrator, The Dame Malvina Major Foundation,

PO Box 9976, Wellington 6141. Thank you!

SHARE THE DREAM

You can play a vital role in helping aspiring young talented performers get professional guidance in their field of expertise.

All donations go towards a programme or scholarship to help the Foundation do more for our young performers.

Donations are tax deductible. The Dame Malvina Major Foundation is a registered charity under the Charities Act 2005,

registration number CC10225.

A bequest or legacy in your will is a valuable and enduring way of assisting in sharing the dream of Dame Malvina.

Email dame_malvina_major_foundation@xtra.co.nz or call Trust Administrator Patricia Hurley on (04) 384 9745 if you would like

us to send you or your lawyer information on how to make a bequest or legacy.

Cecily Maccoll Memorial Scholarship: Harry Grigg, tenor

Alice Cole Piano Scholarship Auckland: To be awarded 2015

Peter Lees-Jeffries Memorial Scholarship: To be awarded late 2014

Greenlea Foundation Grants Waikato: Oriana Kershaw, soprano; Jarvis Dams, baritone; Elisha Hulton, mezzo soprano; Chelsea Dolman, soprano

• Sponsorships

For Patricia Hurley’s Masterclasses for New Zealand Opera Singers and concerts in France and Italy: Polly Ott, soprano; Rosel Labone, soprano; Moses Mackay, baritone; James Ioelu, bass-baritone (France) and Christie Cook, mezzo soprano; Daniel O’Connor, baritone; Julien Van Mellaerts, baritone (Italy)

• Freemasons Dame Malvina Major New Zealand Opera Young Artist programme: Rachelle Pike, soprano

• Freemasons Dame Malvina Major New Zealand Opera Emerging Artists programme: Filipe Manu, tenor; Jarvis Dams, baritone; Christian Thurston, baritone; Chelsea Dolman, soprano; and Emily Scott, soprano

• Arts Excellence Awards

Auckland: Madison Nonoa, soprano; Jane Koo, pianist; Lauren Bennett, violinist

Christchurch: Samuel Blakelock, jazz guitarist; Bryony Gibson-Cornish, violist; Andrew Grenon, tenor; Marcus Norman, clarinetist; Hugh Roberts, flautist

Wellington: Alice McIvor, violist

Taranaki with support from the TSB Community Trust: to many individuals and groups associated with the performing arts

• Prizes in vocal competitions

Dame Malvina Major Foundation Aria, Wellington, first prize: Christian Thurston

Christchurch, first prize: Isabella Moore

Dunedin, first prize: Isabella Moore

New Zealand Aria, Rotorua, first prize: Isabella Moore

Lexus Song Quest runner-up prize: Benson Wilson

Waikato University Aria Competitions (Greenlea Foundation Grants): first prize Oriana Kershaw, second prize Chelsea Dolman, third prize Felipe Manu

• Scholarships

Dame Malvina Major Mina Foley Scholarship: for Madeleine Pierard, soprano, to return from the UK to perform in NZ Opera’s La Bohème in Christchurch

Sir Howard Morrison Vocal Scholarship: Oriana Kershaw, soprano

For NZSO Understudies, The Creation by Haydn: Elizabeth Mandeno, Andrew Grenon, James Ioelu

For Elizabeth Mandeno, soprano, to perform in Opera Otago’s production of This Other Eden by Antony Ritchie.

French study tour Le Quesnoy, France, May 2014, from left: Ouri Bronchti, vocal coach and pianist, Polly Ott and Rosel Labone, sopranos, Moses Mackay, baritone, James Ioelu, bass-baritone

2014 GRANTS AND PRIZES

www.damemalvinamajorfoundation.org