NZ ARIA TRUST PRESENTS THE NZ Aria Trust wishes to thank the following for their generous support 2017 Programme ROTORUA PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE All Sections: Friday 27 October - Sunday 29 October 2017 Finals Night: Sunday 29 October 2017 www.nzaria.org Coombes Johnston The New Zealand Aria Trust wishes to thank the following for their generous support The Dame Malvina Major Foundation provides educational and training opportunities for young New Zealanders in the performing arts and supports young New Zealanders of outstanding ability and real potential to prepare for professional careers. www.dmmfoundation.org.nz For further information on how you can help please contact: Trust Administrator The Dame Malvina Major Foundation PO Box 9976 Marion Square Wellington 6141 Telephone 04 384 9745 Mobile 021 858895 Fax 04 384 9785 Email: [email protected] Coombes Johnston The New Zealand Aria Trust welcomes you to the 71st Festival Weekend of Song to be held in the Rotorua Performing Arts Centre All Sections - Friday 27 October - Sunday 29 October 2017 Featuring the finals of the NEW ZEALAND ARIA on Sunday 29 October 2017 OFFICERS 2017/2018 Trustees: Mrs Jo-Anne La Grouw MNZM, Mrs Anne Larkin, Mrs Alison Perrin JP, Mr Grahame Hall QSO JP, Mrs Dianne Estcourt, Mr Lyall Thurston QSO JP, Mr Ian Edward QSM, Mr Monty Morrison JP President: Mrs Jo-Anne La Grouw MNZM Vice President: Mrs Anne Larkin Vocal Convenors: Open Classes: Mr Ian Edward QSM Under 21 Section: Mrs Anne Larkin ANY QUERIES, PLEASE CONTACT Event Co-ordinator - Jo-Anne La Grouw phone: 021 812 611 PO Box 1194, Rotorua email: [email protected] 1 SPONSORS The New Zealand Aria Trust wish to thank the following sponsors for their generous support THE DAME MALVINA MAJOR FOUNDATION NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY TRUST THE SOUTHERN TRUST ROTORUA ENERGY CHARITABLE TRUST FIRST SOVEREIGN TRUST LIMITED PUB CHARITY COOMBES JOHNSTON BMW FOUR WINDS FOUNDATION GEYSER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DUDFIELD BRYCE PRINTERS CREATIVE COMMUNITIES LOCKWOOD THE PRINCES GATE HOTEL MIKE STEINER INTERIORS CAPER’S EPICUREAN NEW ZEALAND POST THE DAILY POST CLAYMARK EQUINE ESTATE LTD 2 farewelled 3 NEW ZEALAND ARIA - A Celebration of Song - 1st Prize The Dame Malvina Major Foundation Prize valued at $20,000 2nd Prize Geyser Community Foundation La Grouw Prize $10,000 3rd Prize Coombes Johnston BMW Prize $5,000 all remaining finalists to receive $500 The Dame Malvina Major Foundation $20,000 Prize Package includes: • $5,000 towards tuition or audition fees • $5,000 towards entry in the McDonalds Aria in Sydney • $10,000 cash - Open to Ladies and Gentlemen 18 Years and Over - 4 ADMISSION NEW ZEALAND ARIA FINALS Sunday 29 October 2017, 7.30pm Rotorua Performing Arts Centre Cnr Arawa and Fenton Streets, Rotorua ADULTS $60.00 SUPERANNUITANTS AND STUDENTS $45.00 Entry to all other events over the weekend is $2.00 per day TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM TICKETMASTER AT THE ROTORUA PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE OR FROM THEIR WEBSITE www.ticketmaster.co.nz SUPPER at Princes Gate Hotel for ticket holders and invited guests Sunday 29 October 2017 following the Aria Finals Entry $25.00 Each competitor entered into Class 345 qualifies for ONE COMPLIMENTARY TICKET to the Finals Night. These tickets will be available until noon Sunday from the registration desk. 5 FINALS NIGHT New Zealand Aria Finals Rotorua Performing Arts Centre, 7.30pm, Sunday, 29 October 2017 Master of Ceremonies - Helen Medlyn 7.30 pm - Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor: Hamish McKeich 7.40 pm - Guest Artist - Jud Arthur 7.50 pm - New Zealand Aria Finalists 8.30 pm - Interval 8.50 pm - New Zealand Aria Finalists 9.30 pm - Guest Artist - Jud Arthur 9.45 pm - Dame Malvina Major presents Prize to Aria Winner 10.00 pm - Supper - Princes Gate Hotel (ticket holders only) 6 VENUES MAP OF CITY ROTORUA CONVENTION CENTRE HINEMARU STREET MONARCH PRINCES ROOM GATE HOTEL 7 AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIAJUDGES ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR OF THE AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is the city’s leading performing arts organisation, and Auckland’s only resident full-time professional symphony orchestra. In more than 70 performances annually, the APO presents a full season of symphonic work and supports both the NBR New Zealand Opera and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Renowned for its innovation, passion and versatility, the APO collaborates with some of New Zealand’s most inventive artists, and is the orchestra of choice for visiting international classical musicians and popular acts alike. The APO promotes a vibrant arts culture by providing leadership and support. Through its numerous education programmes the APO offers opportunities to 25,000 young people and adults nationwide to participate in music, ranging from hip-hop and rock to contemporary and classical. More than 100,000 people hear the orchestra live each year, with many thousands more reached through special events, other media and recordings on the APO Live and Naxos music labels. Most APO concerts are broadcast live nationally and streamed online, allowing everyone the chance to share the excitement of a world-class performance. 8 CONDUCTOR OF THE AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA New Zealand Aria Finals Night - Hamish McKeich New Zealand born conductor Hamish McKeich has forged an impressive international conducting career alongside a passionate loyalty for developing the repertoire of contemporary and experimental music. He has established an acclaimed partnership with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and served as the Orchestra’s Associate Conductor from 2002-2006 and performs and records continually with them to this day. He has worked with many orchestras and ensembles, including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, ELISION ensemble, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Metropole Orkest, Asko Ensemble of Holland, Stroma, Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, Adelaide Symphony, Armenian Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony, Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Symphony, 175 East, Auckland Philharmonia, Christchurch Symphony, Southern Symphonia amongst others. Initially a bassoonist, he studied conducting with Ilya Musin, Valery Gergiev and Sian Edwards. He has performed in New Zealand, Australia, China, the Netherlands, Italy, England, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Armenia and Lebanon. Working regularly in Europe, Australia and with New Zealand’s major orchestras, he has given over 100 world premieres of new works and is also chief conductor of the contemporary ensemble Stroma. In 2012 Hamish McKeich was awarded a Douglas Lilburn Trust citation for services to New Zealand music. MASTER OF CEREMONIES New Zealand Aria Helen Medlyn One of New Zealand’s most versatile and popular singer-actresses, Helen Medlyn is a respected performer of opera, jazz, straight theatre, oratorio, cabaret, lieder and music theatre, appearing as a guest soloist with most arts organisations here in New Zealand, as well as with many of the major opera companies and orchestras in Australia. In recognition of her career and her continuing body of work, Helen was honoured as a Laureate by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand in 2002 and made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the performing arts in 2013. A few highlights from Helen's unusually diverse "life upon the wicked stage" include Joy Gresham in Nicholson's play Shadowlands (Mercury); Concepcion in Ravel's The Spanish Hour (NZO); Alice, a mono-drama, written especially for Helen by Gillian Whitehead (NZSO, APO); Mrs Rieper/Mrs Parker in Forster's play Daughters of Heaven (Watershed); Flosshilde and Schwertleite in Pierre Strosser's production of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (SOSA); the Wicked Witch of the West in Arlen's musical The Wizard of Oz (Peach Theatre Company); Klytemnestra in Strauss’ opera Elektra (APO); Fraulein Schneider in Kander and Ebb's show, Cabaret (ATC); Handel's Messiah with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra; and the shows she creates and presents with pianist, Penny Dodd. 9 JUDGES New Zealand Aria - Open Section Sharolyn Kimmorley AM After studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sharolyn Kimmorley joined the Music Staff of The Australian Opera and has assisted in the preparation of a vast range of works with many distinguished singers and conductors. She has held the positions of Principal Répétiteur, Head of Music Staff, Artistic Administrator and Director of Music Administration. Sharolyn Kimmorley is regarded as one of Australia’s finest vocal coaches and accompanists. She has recorded for the ABC Classics, taken part in Chamber Music Concerts, and accompanied some of the world's most distinguished recitalists including Dame Joan Sutherland, Håkan Hagegård, Bryn Terfel, Wilhelmenia Fernandez, Sir Thomas Allen, Désirée Rancatore, Barbara Bonney, Keith Lewis, Yvonne Kenny, Inessa Galante, Dennis O’Neill, Ian Bostridge, Kathleen Battle and Jonathan Lemalu. In January 2009 Sharolyn became a member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her work as an accompanist and the nurturing and mentoring of emerging artists. Sharolyn is currently Artistic Adviser to the Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust, Artistic Director of The Opera Club (Christchurch) Chorus Director for Opera New Zealand (Christchurch) and Guest Vocal Coach at the Tiroler Festspiele in Erl, Austria The Ultimate Driving Machine COOMBES JOHNSTON BMW. PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE NZ ARIA AWARDS. 497 Te Rapa Road, Hamilton. 07 846 8888. 113 Hewletts Road, Mount Maunganui. (07) 575 5280. www.coombesjohnstonbmw.co.nz 10 JUDGES New Zealand Aria - Open Section Peter Lockwood Peter Lockwood was born in New Zealand, where he received his initial musical and linguistic training. His interest in music and theatre led him to work as repetituer and accompanist on numerous projects throughout the North Island from 1976-1980. He travelled to London in 1980 where he continued his studies in piano, continuo work and conducting at the Royal College of Music (1980-81) and the National Opera Studio (1981- 82). Peter Lockwood joined the music staff of Scottish Opera under Sir Alexander Gibson in 1982, working with the main company and with its touring arm Opera-Go-Round, aking opera to towns and regions that the main company could not reach.