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Amitai Pati has taken out the $20,000 Dame Malvina Major Foundation first prize in the New Zealand Aria competition.
The tenor, who is part of international singing sensations Sol3Mio sang Lensky’s Aria from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin for the top spot.
On his win, Amitai said he was inspired by his brother, Pene Pati, who won the competition in 2009.
“That has been a real motivation for me, he has left me huge footsteps to follow.”
The Geyser Community Foundation La Grouw second prize of $10,000 went to tenor Boyd Owen with the Waiariki Institute of Technology Prize third prize of $5,000 won by former Dame Malvina Emerging Artist baritone Jarvis Dams.
Dame Malvina, who presented the first prize said the 2015 New Zealand Aria was simply spectacular.
“It’s been enthralling. There is some beautiful talent, it’s been absolutely fantastic to listen to.”
Commenting on the decision Sydney-based adjudicators Barry Ryan and Anke Hoeppner-Ryan had before them, Dame Malvina said it was not one she would have liked to have made.
“They all gave superb performances … it was obviously a very difficult decision for the adjudicators.”
The ten New Zealand Aria finalists for 2015 were:
