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Young sopranos hit the high notes

Katherine McIndoe, Madison Nonoa and Emma Fraser

Three talented New Zealand sopranos have been chosen to participate in New Zealand Opera’s acclaimed internships sponsored by the Dame Malvina Major Foundation since 2000.

Sopranos Katherine McIndoe and Madison Nonoa were selected by audition to become Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists, with soprano Emma Fraser invited as the 2016 Dame Malvina Major Young Artist. As Emerging Artists, Katherine and Madison will receive tuition from leading vocal coaches and other industry professionals, as well as opportunities to perform in New Zealand Opera productions. Between them, they will be involved in co-productions of Brass Poppies and Nixon in China, and the company’s The Magic Flute, La traviata and the opera-in-schools tour of Elixir of Love.

The Young Artist meanwhile, undertakes a principal role in a New Zealand Opera production. In Emma’s case she’ll be singing Pamina in the company’s production of The Magic Flute. She will also be supported by the company to develop a new role from scratch, including vocal and language coaching. Emma, Katherine and Madison join an internationally-acclaimed alumni for New Zealand Opera’s 2016 season, which includes Phillip Rhodes, Wade Kernot, Andrew Glover, Amelia Berry, and Rachelle Pike.

Speaking about the programme, Jude Froude, Head of Artistic Administration at New Zealand Opera says: “These two internships provide an unparalleled opportunity for artists to hone their ability in a supportive and professional environment. By working with talented young singers like Katherine, Madison and Emma at this stage in their careers, we hope to help them realise their potential and nurture the opera personalities of the future. We are grateful to the Dame Malvina Major Foundation for its continued support of this initiative.”

Dame Malvina Major says the Emerging and Young Artists programmes are the bedrock of the Foundation’s sponsorship and its investment in the programmes would increase from 2016, the Foundation’s 25th birthday year.

“The Emerging and Young Artist programmes are, in my view, world class. They give young artists performance, repetiteur, language and understudy work at a level that is not replicated anywhere.”

Read more about the Young and Emerging Artists

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