It was a brilliant sunlit evening for the official start to the 24th New Zealand Opera School at Collegiate School in Whanganui on Monday night.
Della Jones, the world-renowned mezzo soprano from Wales, and Cesar Ulloa, the chairman of the San Francisco Opera Company, were both overcome with the wonderful warm weather combined with the cries of delight from students welcoming them back for a second time.
Founder and chairman of the opera school Donald Trott said it was yet again a great pleasure to open the 24th NZ Opera School.
The 21 students applauded and cheered, all keen to start their two weeks of intense study.
Mr Trott was absolutely thrilled.