Judges blown away by talent

Pene Pati takes the stage at the New Zealand Aria.

This year's New Zealand Aria competition has been a great success with a line-up of talented singers giving a "world-class performance".

Hundreds of fans filled the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre last night to support the local and national talent at the finals.

New Zealand Aria Trust chairwoman Joanne La Grouw said it had been fantastic - "a world-class performance".

John and Maisie Bond were among the hundreds attending the New Zealand Aria.

"It's all been absolutely amazing."

Ms La Grouw said she expected last night's finals to be the same.

"In the open class the standard of singing has been fantastic. The two Australian adjudicators have been blown away.

Speaking ahead of last night's finals she said normally they had a rough idea of the final placings before the evening performance but this time they had no idea.

"It will be down to the performance on the night."

Last night's show featured 10 finalists, and one representative from the Rotorua, Whakatane, Taupo region.Ms La Grouw said the finalists included a couple of New Zealanders who had been overseas and come back to enter. Dedicated Rotorua music lovers 99-year-old John and 96-year-old Maisie Bond were among the hundreds attending.

Mr Bond, who sings in seven languages, has been a regular competitor and this is the first year he hasn't sung. Last year he achieved a third place.

Mrs Bond said they knew a lot of people who were singing.

"We're just looking forward to watching and seeing how all the youngsters are doing."

Just like Mrs and Mr Bond Oriana Kershaw and June Dams have been contestants. The two travelled from Hamilton returning to watch their close friends singing and June's brother, Jarvis, who is in the finals.

"I think he will sing very well, he always does, but it's anyone's game the standard is so high," said Ms Dams.Winning the sought-after title has been made even better this year with a massive boost to the prize packages.The much-larger prize lured in some already big names in the industry with Amitai Pati from the popular classical trio Sol3 Mio entering. Another, American Lauren Michelle, came to Rotorua fresh from being in the top five at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World contest. See tomorrow's edition of the Rotorua Daily Post for results and a review of the competition