Bryony Williams performing with the Taranaki Youth Orchestra
Dame Malvina Major Foundation events across the country in 2018 showcased not only the talent of young performing artists, but also the dedication of our regional volunteer committees.
The committees organise events to raise funds for regional DMMF Arts Excellence Awards and to provide performance opportunities for young artists.
The Auckland and Waikato Committee ended the year with a return to Willowbrook Park in Hamilton. Sopranos Bryony Williams and Felicity Tomkins, tenor Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono, bass baritone Tavis Gravatt and cellist Matthias Balzat performed at a fundraiser at the beautiful country estate while guests enjoyed wine and canapés and bid generously in the charity auction.
The Taranaki committee hosted a showcase extravaganza at the Theatre Royal in September to celebrate some of the individuals, groups and organisations in the region who have been recipients of funding from the Dame Malvina Major Foundation. The audience was entertained by dancers and dance groups, speech and drama students, chamber music groups, a choir and singers, the Taranaki Youth Orchestra, with special appearances from Brad Carter, who returned from his studies with the Sydney Dance Company for the concert, and Bryony Williams.
In Wellington, a very special fundraiser was hosted in the ballroom of the Residence of the Dutch Ambassador, His Excellency Rob Zaagman. More than 80 guests enjoyed a concert featuring Bruce Greenfield (programme coordinator and accompanist), Maaike Christie-Beekman (soprano), Simon Christie (baritone) and Theo Moolenaar, with the programme including operatic arias by Mozart and Rossini, Lieder by Schubert, Dutch cabaret songs, and songs from American musicals.
A highlight for the Christchurch committee was their ‘Young Stars at home’ event at Holly Lea village in Christchurch with DMMF artists ballet dancer Tasman Davids and pianist Bradley Wood. Tasman and his partner Anya shared their lives as ballet dancers in St Petersburg Russia with footage from performances. Bradley, fresh after success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, gave a recital in the glorious setting of the drawing room.
During the year, the regional committees awarded $17,000 to five young performing artists in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with more than $100,000 distributed by the Taranaki committee with support from the TSB Community Trust.
This article was originally published in our Summer 2018/19 edition of Rhapsody. Download the pdf.
