Dame Malvina Major Foundation Dunedin Aria 2019
Soprano Laura Loach has won the Dame Malvina Major Dunedin Aria ahead of eight talented finalists, judged by New Zealand born international opera singer Conal Coad.
Baritone Kaeiti Waetford was runner up with soprano Olivia Sheat achieving third place, and tenor Harry Grigg winning the prize for most promising.
South Island born and raised Laura moved to Wellington to study at Te Koki New Zealand School of Music, where she gained both her Bachelor of Music and Post Graduate Diploma of Music in Classical Performance under the tutelage of Flora Edwards. Laura is also passionate about teaching and after completing her postgraduate studies she trained as a secondary teacher, gaining her Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) at Massey University. Laura also holds her ATCL in Performance Speech and Drama with Distinction from Trinity College.
Laura has performed a diverse range of roles in musical theatre and opera, and in theatre as both actor and director. In 2018 Laura made her musical theatre directing debut with the Wellington Footlights Society for their production of Chess.
In 2018 Laura won the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Christchurch Aria competition.
