Young Opera Stars

These singers are all voice students at Victoria University’s New Zealand School of Music. The group includes two locals – Matt Barris and Grace Burt from Tawa – who join Michaela Cadwgan, Morgan King and Jennifer Huckle from Auckland and LJ Crichton and Tomairangi Henare from Hawke’s Bay, both graduates of the very successful their Prima Volte programme. Head of Accompanying, David Barnard, will collaborate with the singers on Pātaka’s baby grand piano.

The singers will perform well-known opera favourites and duets. Matt, Tomairangi, Morgan and LJ – collectively the vocal quartet Tokowhā – will also be reprising some pieces from the stunning concert they presented at the recent re-opening of Te Papa. 

“This is an unmissable concert featuring highly talented and engaging group of young up-and-coming musicians who love performing,” says NZSM Head of Vocal Studies and well-known opera singer Margaret Medlyn. “We are thrilled to be invited to perform at Pātaka, and hope it will be the beginning of a long and creative relationship.”