Manase Latu won the open category of the New Zealand Aria competition. Photo / File
Manase Latu won the open category of the New Zealand Aria competition. Photo / File
When Manase Latu stood on stage and sang, the whole audience knew he was the winner.
That's according to the New Zealand Aria Trust president Jo-Anne La Grouw.
But Latu said he wasn't expecting the win.
He took out first place in the New Zealand Aria competition held over three days in Rotorua, ending on Saturday.
La Grouw said there were 43 entrants in the open category of the competition and 10 finalists were selected for Saturday night's final. In the lead-up to the final, the contestants had to perform three types of song: an aria, a lieder and a 20th century arts song.
"Every year the standard just gets higher and higher and higher."
Latu, 22, who is from Auckland, said he felt blessed by the win and was lucky to perform alongside other great singers.
"It's such a great event. It's a great platform for young singers and upcoming singers to come to perform."
He said he would encourage all young singers to enter competitiong.
"The main reason I enter is to get that experience in performing to an audience. It's a great thing to do and to have under your belt."
Latu has been singing for about six years.
The competition was held at Rydges Hotel while the final took place in Destiny Auditorium, moved from its traditional home of the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre which is currently closed to meet earthquake building standards.
Rachel Pines was second in the open category and Samson Setu came third.
The winners Own Selection - Under 10 years Chloe Slater - First Place Koen McKenzie - Second Place Will Connolly-Tevendale - Third Place Folk/Traditional - Under 10 years Koen McKenzie - First Place Will Connolly-Tevendale - Second Place Chloe Slater - Third Place Sacred/Oratorio - Under 10 years Will Connolly-Tevendale - First Place Koen McKenzie - Second Place Light Entertainment - Under 10 years Raukura Makoare - First Place Koen McKenzie - Second Place Will Connolly-Tevendale - Third Place Own Selection 10 & Under 13 Years Charles Adams - First Place Clara Douglas - Second Place Rangitoia Rurehe - Third Place Folk/Traditional 10 & Under 13 Years Matahiapo Waimarie Maxwell - First Place Ranithu Rodrigo - Second Place Te Pumanawa o toku ate Rogers - Third Place Sacred/Oratorio 10 & Under 13 Years Charles Adams - First Place Ranithu Rodrigo - Second Place Te Pumanawa o toku ate Rogers - Third Place Light Entertainment 10 & Under 13 Years Te Pumanawa o toku ate Rogers - First Place Matahiapo Waimarie Maxwell - Second Place Charles Adams - Third Place Own Selection 13 & Under 16 years Anabel Jamieson - First Place William McAlister - Second Place Isabella Reid - Third Place Folk/Traditional 13 & Under 16 years Isabella Reid - First Place Hannah Morgan - Second Equal Anabel Jamieson - Second Equal Sacred/Oratorio 13 & Under 16 years Ruaeo Te Moni - First Place Isabella Reid - Second Place Tamsyn Harawira - Third Place Light Entertainment 13 & Under 16 years Isabella Reid - First Place Anabel Jamieson - Second Place Tamsyn Harawira - Third Place Restricted Class Under 14 Years Lauren Thompson First Place NZ Composer Under 14 Years Rongonui Rangihau - First Place Charles Adams - Second Place Ruaeo Te Moni - Third Place Maori Song Under 14 Years Ruaeo Te Moni - First Place Halo Jackson - Second Place Matahiapo Waimarie Maxwell - Third Place Restricted Class 14 & Under 21 Years Tamati Cassidy - First Place Alexandra Francis - Second Place Maia Carrington - Third Place NZ Composer 14 & Under 21 Years Hannah Morgan - First Place Isabella Reid - Second Place Katie Trigg - Third Place Maori Song 14 & Under 21 Years Anahera Waiariki - First Place Neeve Coumbe - Second Place Rhayvon Mihaere - Third Place Own Selection 16 & Under 18 Years Jacob Siohane-Royle - First Place Jemma Chester - Second Place Dominic Pearson - Third Place Folk Traditional 16 & Under 18 Years Jacob Siohane-Royle - First Place Jemma Chester - Second Place Sacred/Oratorio 16 & Under 18 Years Jemma Chester - First Place Jacob Siohane-Royle - Second Place Light Entertainment 16 & Under 18 Years Anna Hamilton - First Place Jacob Siohane-Royle - Second Place Neeve Coumbe - Third Place Own Selection 18 & Under 21 Years Arthur Adams-Close - First Place Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono - Second Place Katie Trigg - Third Place Folk Traditional 18 & Under 21 Years Sid Chand - First Place Arthur Adams-Close - Second Place Matthew Bennett - Third Place Sacred/Oratorio 18 & Under 21 Years Sid Chand - First Place Arthur Adams-Close - Second Place Larissa Kent - Third Place Light Entertainment 18 & Under 21 Years Matthew Bennett - First Place Sid Chand - Second Place Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono - Third Place Own Selection 16 & Under 21 Years Carla Camilleri - First Place Sid Chand - Second Place Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono - Third Place Oratorio/Sacred Song 16 & Under 21 Years Carla Camilleri - First Place Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono - Second Place Arthur Adams-Close - Third Place Lieder/Art Song 16 & Under 21 Years Te Ohorere Williams - First Place Arthur Adams-Close - Second Place Sid Chand - Third Place Operatic Aria 16 & Under 21 Years Sid Chand - First Place Arthur Adams-Close - Second Place Te Ohorere Williams - Third Place NZ Aria Award - Most promising competitor in the under 21 Yrs Section Te Ohorere Williams Mike Steiner Interior Design Junior Award Carla Camilleri - First Place Sid Chand - Second Place Arthur Adams-Close - Third Place Kowhai Award - Highest Mark in NZ Composer Hannah Morgan Highest Mark in Maori Song Anahera Waiariki
Adult winners Baroque Classical Aria Olivia Sheat - First Place Rachel Pines - Second Place Katie Trigg - Third Place Solo Own Selection Carla Camilleri - First Place Laura Loach - Second Place Samson Setu - Third Place Oratorio or Sacred Solo Manase Latu - First Place Laura Loach - Second Place Genevieve Dickson - Third Place Lieder own Selection Morgan England-Jones - First Place Manase Latu - Second Place Samson Setu - Third Place Folk or Traditional Carla Camilleri - First Place Genevieve Dickson - Second Place Christina McDonald - Third Place 20th Century Art Song Manase Latu - First Place Samson Setu - Second Place Maia Amosa - Third Place New Zealand Aria 2018 Manase Latu - First Place Rachel Pines - Second Place Samson Setu - Third Place Ethel & William Harman Ambassador's Award Te Ohorere Williams John Bond Award Carla Camilleri
