Fine tuning a Harley and a singing voice  all in a day's work for Bryan

MUSIC comes in many forms.
An unlikely one is the sound of a factory-customised, finely-tuned, Harley Davidson "Screamin' Eagle" Ultra Classic Electra Glide 1700 at the Wanganui-based Royal New Zealand Opera School this week.
The motorbike belongs to Bryan Wyness, chairman of the school's trust board, and his wife Marion, who often rides pillion.
He travelled to Wanganui from his Pukekohe home on it and as soon as the tutors and students heard its powerful motor, they were hopeful of getting at least a short pillion ride in Collegiate's grounds.
First up yesterday were principal tutors vocal consultant Professor Paul Farrington and opera singer/vocal coach Margaret Medlyn.
"This takes me back to when I was younger. A boyfriend had a Harley and I've a vivid memory of the first time we did 100 miles an hour on a valley road," Miss Medlyn said.
For Professor Farrington it was his first time on such a powerful motorbike.
He described his ride as a cross between a thrill and being "knocked sick".
Mr Wyness, who later this year will take part in a Grand Challenge Rally over 1600kms in 24 hours, said the motorbike was a "wonderfully comfortable, powerful bike to cruise on".
"It has a stereo and during the rally it will be going full blast to help keep me awake!" Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen will be among the music he'll play.
Mr Wyness' love of motorbikes and opera will come as no surprise to those who read the Chronicle article of his epic three-month 19,200 km Silk Road trip, in the footsteps of Marco Polo.
A former vice-president of flight operations for Air New Zealand, Mr Wyness had a 40-year career in aviation before he retired.
He has no problem in reconciling his love of aviation and interest in the opera school.
"In training pilots to fly sophisticated planes, you need very similar sensory perception and skills that a good voice tutor needs in finding out what is preventing a singer from reaching a required standard." The opera school's second public masterclass will be held tonight at 7.30 in the Collegiate School Prince Edward Auditorium.
From 7.30pm on Thursday, the school's students will entertain diners at Vega Restaurant, the Indigo Caf? and Red Eye Caf?.
The school's final concert, Great Opera Moments 2008, will be in the Royal Wanganui Opera House on Saturday at 7.30pm.