Calista Nelmes is the first Tauranga Musical Theatre member accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia

Calista Nelmes, 19, is the first Tauranga Musical Theatre member to be accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia. Photo/Supplied.

A Tauranga teenager who once graced the nation's television screens as a contestant in New Zealand's Got Talent has been accepted into a prestigious performing arts institute across the ditch.

Calista Nelmes, 19, is the first Tauranga Musical Theatre member, and one of 20 students, to be accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia.

After applying online, the former Tauranga Girls' College student had to prepare two contrasting musical theatre songs and a monologue to perform at the audition in Sydney.

Nelmes received a call back for both the singing and dance auditions the next day before flying back home to New Zealand where she waited for good news.

"For me it was a massive deal, it was one of the top three schools in Australia and has had so many successful graduates in the industry," Nelmes said.

"I worked for about two years prior on being able to get in so safe to say it was a big dream of mine."

Nelmes started singing at 9 after joining the school choir but admitted she had "always loved singing anything, anywhere".

"I have always been drawn to a stage and I think what I love the most about the work I have been doing lately is having an emotional impact on people," Nelmes said.

"It is an amazing feeling being able to bring someone into a different world for a few hours - and the adrenaline rush afterwards isn't bad either."

The talented teen first stepped under the national spotlight as a semifinalist in the reality television show New Zealand's Got Talent in 2013.

Nelmes then wowed Tauranga audiences as the lead female character Sherrie Christian in Tauranga Musical Theatre's production of the rock-jukebox musical Rock of Ages.

The National Institute of Dramatic Art is Nelmes' first international gig.

"To be accepted as one of 20 out of hundreds for me is a pretty big deal," she said.

One of her tutors was Australian actor and singer Philip Quast who is a three-time winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

"It is such a humbling experience to be able to work with such a theatre legend," Nelmes said.

"It is a lot of hard work but I am growing so much as a performer and that one was of the qualities that drew me to NIDA, that your skill as a performer is constantly enhancing."

Nelmes hoped to one day tour professionally in musicals and also had her eye on film and television roles.

"NIDA, for me is just the start of a huge journey into this industry as a career and it is a very exciting one."

Tauranga Musical Theatre president Elise Rohde said there was nothing that made her more proud of the culture community theatre created than seeing one of their own succeed.

Rohde said Nelmes was a "powerhouse" as the lead role in Rock of Ages last April and was nominated for Best Leading Female in a musical.

"Calista was always extremely talented, and we always knew that Tauranga was just the start of her journey," she said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Nelmes saved $10,000 during a gap year last year and has a family loan of $8000 to help pay off her tuition fee. She was now hoping to raise funds to help pay off her family loan.

To help, visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/support-a-talented-driven-tauranga-girl