Four Fonoti-Fuimaono brothers from Hawke's Bay bring their talents to Whanganui Opera Week

Left to right: La'auli Fonoti Fuimaono, Jordon Fonoti-Fuimaono, Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, Faamanu-Fonoti Fuimaono. Photo / John Wansbrough

They are family, they are proud, music is their love, their life and their work.

The four Fonoti-Fuimaono brothers from Hawke's Bay, two tenors, a baritone and a bass baritone all study at Waikato University and are passionate about being students at the New Zealand Opera School.

Jordan (20), Emmanuel (23), Faamanu (22) and Alfred (24) say their Samoan upbringing and heritage has led them all into music.

Being Christian, the church is an integral part of their lives.

And their parents are both songwriters and musicians, they say.

The brothers say they didn't even know what opera was until the music master at their high school in Hastings advised them to audition for a Hawke's Bay Opera Initiative headed by Anna Pierard and Sarah Walmsley.

The initiative called Project Prima Volta not only fostered their love of classical singing, it meant they discovered opera and the absolute beauty of its music.

"I fell in love with the music, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was and in the project we even got to sing and actually sing opera onstage," Alfred said.

"And now to be studying at the New Zealand Opera School ... all of us now making it into the school is a wonderful dream."

Even though the tuition at the school is the very best there is, how you do is all about your own personal work and attitude, Emmanuel said.

"I mean you could just sing your way through your lessons then go to your room and lie down and do nothing and that would get you nowhere fast.''

It was a huge privilege to be accepted at the school, they said.

"Sometimes it feels like a dream you know," said Jordan.

The brothers say they are so happy to be at the school.

'We are living beautiful opera music all day every day for two weeks ... what a great life."

The four brothers are in Whanganui to perform as part of Whanganui Opera Week that goes until January 23.