Opera school gets big tick from Dame Kiri

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa lends a hand at last January's NZ Opera School in Whanganui.

The 23rd New Zealand Opera School will start with a rousing haka by the Putiki Maori Club at the opening on January 9.

And the school - held in Whanganui every January - has had a ringing endorsement from New Zealand's legendary Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

Last January, international opera star Dame Kiri visited the school for the first time to see first hand the institution that her own foundation has supported financially for the past five years.

"I very much wanted to see for myself just what it was like," Dame Kiri said in a letter to the school.

"I was not disappointed - the facilities are superb and the final concert was of the very best quality.

"At the final concert - Great Opera Moments - I was very pleased by the performance given by the students, and I wish the Opera School, students and supporters another very enjoyable musical experience."

Next month, leading British opera singer Della Jones - who had to pull out of her tutor engagement this year after a bad fall - will be teaching at the school.

She told school founder Donald Trott it would be "exciting and wonderful" to have the opening of this 23rd school celebrated with a haka.

"It's all organised and I'm sure it will be wonderful. I'm so pleased Della is able to be with us this year," Mr Trott said.

Dame Kiri commented: "Della Jones has been doing tremendous work with students at the National Opera Studio and the Welsh International Academy of voice."

The NZ Opera School, held each year at Wanganui Collegiate School, has made its mark globally, Mr Trott said, with New Zealand opera singers gaining the attention of overseas companies.

In another big coup, next month will see Whanganui host one of the world's best singing tutors, Cesar Ulloa from San Francisco.

"Cesar has agreed to teach here at the opera school in January, which is just tremendous," Mr Trott said.

Dame Kiri was also delighted that Cesar Ulloa would be taking part, saying she first met him 10 years ago after singing the title role in Vanessa, an American opera, with one of Ulloa's students, John Matz.

"I asked who his teacher was and from then on I have followed Cesar's career and heard about the students he has taught," she said.

Two of his current students are the Samoan Pati brothers, Pene and Amitai, who form the hit recording operatic trio Sole 3 Mio with their cousin Moses McKay, all three former students of the NZ Opera School.

Dame Kiri said Ulloa had made a significant difference to many students - "Which is one of the reasons I suggested he be invited to tutor at the school."