Pianists named as emerging opera artists for the first time

David Kelly and Catherine Norton have been named as Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists by the New Zealand Opera.

In a departure from previous years where young opera singers were the participants, this year Kelly, 22, and Norton, 24, are repetiteurs (piano accompanists) .

The artists will embark on a year-long internship with the New Zealand Opera , in a programme that has been aimed at developing the grass-roots of the classical music industry in New Zealand.

Director of music Wyn Davies said it was important to the industry that repetiteurs were nurtured, as well as singers, in the interests of the future of opera.

"Opera, like rugby, needs good coaches.

"This move will help ensure that for the excellent array of young New Zealand singers, there are also professional New Zealand coaches and repetiteurs to work alongside them in the future."

- NZPA