BACKGROUND__

DAME MALVINA MAJOR

The Dame Malvina Major Studio Artists are proudly sponsored by the Dame Malvina Major Foundation. Co-ordinated and administered by New Zealand Opera, this position offers a unique opportunity for singers and répétiteurs to work with opera professionals to develop the skills required to prepare for a career in opera.

At New Zealand Opera we consider it one of our key roles to identify talented New Zealand singers and provide them with support through the many stages of their operatic career. This may involve giving young singers exposure to a working opera environment, bringing young New Zealanders back to sing roles after a period of overseas study, or giving the opportunity for New Zealand based singers to continue to develop their skills.

Studio Artists are selected annually by audition. Successful singing candidates can be part of the Freemasons New Zealand Opera Chorus, are given the opportunity to sing in New Zealand Opera branded concerts and may be offered small roles and understudies. Vocal, stagecraft and language coaching will be provided.

Répétiteurs may have the opportunity to play for rehearsals and New Zealand Opera concerts, as well as coaching with visiting répétiteurs, coaches and conductors.

The position ideally covers at least six months in total, focusing mainly on the main-stage production periods.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION__

A quarterly stipend is provided for the year during the Studio Artist’s activity with New Zealand Opera.

For any concerts where the Studio Artist performs and New Zealand Opera receives a fee, a portion of that fee will be offered to the Studio Artist.

For any nights spent away from the Studio Artist’s nominated home base for any event for New Zealand Opera, accommodation and per diems are provided. The nominated home base must be either Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch.

SCHOLARSHIP__ Studio Artists may be given the opportunity to audition for the Circle100 Scholarship, awarded up to the value of $20,000 to assist with studies overseas.

MADISON NONOAJoyce: Brass Poppies (NZO

2016)Papagena:

The Magic Flute (NZO 2016)

THOMAS ATKINSRodolfo: La

bohème (NZO 2018)

AMELIA BERRYMusetta: La

bohème (NZO 2018)

Cunégonde: Candide (NZO

2018)Frasquita:

Carmen (NZO 2017)

Yum-Yum:The Mikado (NZO

2017)Johanna:

Sweeney Todd (NZO 2016)

DAVID KELLYPrincipal and

Chorus répétiteur for NZO

productions since 2009

PHILLIP RHODESRenato: Un ballo

in maschera, Alfio: Cavalleria rusticana, Silvio: Pagliacci (Opera North 2017/18)Judge Turpin: Sweeney Todd

(NZO 2016)Giorgio Germont: La traviata (NZO

2016)Scarpia: Tosca

(NZO 2015)

NATASHA WILSONGianetta: L’elisir d’amore (2018)

Paquette: Candide (2018)

Ensemble: The Mikado (2017)

THE SELECTION PROCESS__

Once applications have been received, a shortlist is compiled, and the selected candidates are allocated an audition time.

Shortlisted VOCAL applicants will be required to:

sing two contrasting arias; undergo a brief musicianship test; be interviewed by the panel.

Applicants will be accompanied by piano, with the accompanist provided by New Zealand Opera.

Shortlisted RÉPÉTITEUR applicants will be required to:

play a prepared operatic piece of the applicant's choice, under the guidance of a conductor (the applicant's choice for this piece is to be noted on the application form);

accompany a singer in one operatic aria. All applicants will be provided with the same aria to learn at the time of shortlist notification. A singer will be provided by NZ Opera at the audition;

sight-read at least one short piece to be provided by the panel, and sing in the vocal parts.

HOW TO APPLY__ Applicants should complete and return the enclosed application form along with a video recording and the documents specified.

CRITERIA__ Applicants must already have proven ability in the opera genre. Although tertiary study is not a prerequisite, applicants must have

completed any such studies before becoming a Studio Artist (although candidates may audition while undertaking study).

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. There is no specified age range, although the intention is to

encourage emerging rather than established artists.

CONTACT__ Should you have any queries about becoming a Dame Malvina Major Studio Artist, please contact Glenn Meade on: glenn@nzopera.co.nz or +64 9 979 7640. Further information can also be found at www.nzopera.co.nz

"I will always be grateful for the time I spent as a Dame Malvina Major Artist. New Zealand Opera is very special in the way that it fosters young talent and I grew

exponentially as a singer and as a person during my time in the programme. The many performance opportunities led to my becoming far more confident on stage

and I felt that I had the freedom to experiment with my performance skills in a safe environment. Watching the principals during rehearsals was a huge learning boost and is something that most young singers never have the chance to do. Above all,

I always felt supported and that I was a valued part of the company. The whole experience contributed greatly to my progress as an artist and I consider it to be

the best start to my career that I could have had."

_______Amelia Berry

2010 PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist