Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's foundation has pulled its support of the New Zealand Opera School, held in Whanganui every January.
The loss of the funding has left Opera School chairman Donald Trott "very concerned".
"I hadn't been anticipating it, but with funding you can never be sure about what the future holds," Mr Trott told the Wanganui Chronicle.
His concerns about the school have been allayed, however, with the Freemasons Foundation stepping in to replace Dame Kiri's support.
The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation has paid for international opera coaches to tutor at the school for the past six years. The funding has covered the coaches' fees, flights and accommodation during the two weeks of the school, plus other expenses.