Dame Malvina Major Foundation Dunedin Aria 2017
From left: Laura Loach, Sam Madden, Sophie Sparrow, Ingrid Fomison Nurse, Harry Grigg (runner up), Natasha Wilson (winner), Ridge Ponini, William King
The Dame Malvina Major Foundation Aria title has been claimed by soprano Natasha Wilson, with local tenor Harry Grigg runner up.
Born and raised in Auckland, Natasha has a BMus(Hons) majoring in classical vocal performance from the University of Auckland.
Natasha made her professional debut with New Zealand Opera, as a member of the company for their touring production of The Mikado and was involved in workshops of Tim Finn’s upcoming opera, Star Navigator, in the role of Purea. Natasha has also performed internationally with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra as the soprano soloist in their Spanish Baroque concert series. Natasha was a recipient of the Italy masterclasses and concerts scholarship as part of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Opera Studies Programme and is a member of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation’s mentoring programme.
She told the Otago Daily Times she was “very ecstatic” to gain the win, which reflected “all the hard work” she had put in.
Adjudicator, renowned soprano Gina Sanders said the eight finalists were an “extremely high standard”.
