Dunedin-based soprano Olivia Pike was the winner of the Brayden Coldicutt Aria Competition held at the MTG Century Theatre Sunday, April 9.
The aria competition is a mainstay event of the Napier Performing Arts Competition Society’s Easter Festival.
At the final concert of the competition, Pike performed Monica’s Waltz from The Medium by Menotti and Marenka’s Aria from The Bartered Bride by Smetana. She was presented with the $4000 winner’s prize by adjudicator Ravil Atlas.
Six finalists were chosen by Ravil Atlas from the 15 entrants who performed on Saturday evening. Second place was Larissa Kent (sponsored by Gifford Devine), third was Erica Paterson (sponsored by Franki James) and the other finalists were Samuel McKeever, Grace Burt and Tomairangi Henare (sponsored by Taradale Medical).
Although there is no hometown advantage to the competition, Kent, McKeever and Henare began their singing careers in Hawke’s Bay, and Flaxmere tenor Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono won the mayor’s prize for the most promising performer, as selected by Ravil Atlas.