DMMF Wellington Aria 2019 finalists
From left: Laura Loach, Michaela Cadwgan, Clare Hood, Harry Grigg, Patricia Wright, Chelsea Dolman, Benjamin Reason, Sophie Sparrow, Olivia Sheat
Soprano Sophie Sparrow has won the Dame Malvina Major Wellington Aria and $4,000 first prize, with soprano Chelsea Dolman runner up.
Adjudicator Patricia Wright was hugely impressed with the standard and felt all of the finalists were capable of having an operatic career. She also complimented the standard of teaching and the terrific range and choice of repertoire.
Sophie is studying a Master of Performance in Vocal Studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, under Yvonne Kenny and Marcus van den Akker. She holds a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) in Classical Voice Performance and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Otago. During her first year in London Sophie made her Wigmore Hall concert debut performing the world premiere of ‘Remembering the Future’ by Guildhall composer Daniel Davis written for her and fellow countertenor, Nils Wanderer.
