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TANZOS 2026 eNews, Issue #3: Incredible guest tutors, performances and successes
9 September 2026
A Word from our Chair in Opera...
Tēnā koutou katoa,
The past few months have been packed for TANZOS, with final role assessments for our second-year artists and recitals for our first years, all supported by the wonderful Catherine Norton at the piano and under the expert guidance of our Head Vocal Teacher, Nikki Li Hartliep.
We have celebrated a number of competition successes, including in the Kiri TeKanawa Song Quest, where half of the semi-finalists and finalists were current TANZOS artists or alumni. You can read more about these successes further down in this eNews.
We have also farewelled several of our artists as they head overseas to pursue exciting new opportunities, including Ridge Ponini, who has joined the National Opera Studio in London; Sarah Mileham, who is heading to Fondazione Mascarade in Florence; and Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono, who is continuing his studies at the Royal College of Music.
It has been a whirlwind of activity, with some phenomenal guest tutors coming through TANZOS, as well as the wonderful opportunity to see Wellington Opera’s production of Manon in August. Thanks to the generosity of Wellington Opera, our artists also enjoyed a special masterclass with the production’s conductor, Romain Dumas.
In June, we hosted tenor Bryan Hymel, one of the most extraordinary voices of our age, who is currently Associate Professor of Music in Voice at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. We were delighted to take Bryan to the University of Auckland to present a masterclass with their vocal faculty. Following his week with TANZOS in Hamilton, he was also generously hosted by Stephen and Frances at Auckland Opera Studio, where he continued working privately with some very fortunate young singers.
Following Bryan’s visit, we were thrilled to host the incredible Julien Benhamou and Olivia Kahler, thanks to special funding from Lady Judi Gallagher.
Julien is European Casting Consultant for the Metropolitan Opera and also works with the Opéra national de Paris and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. He is Director of Productions at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.
Olivia Kahler is an expert in artist branding and social media management, working with leading international opera artists including Amina Edris, Pene Pati, Jonas Kaufmann, Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Asmik Grigorian.
Together, Julien and Olivia gave our artists extraordinary insight into building an international career, the realities of working in Europe, and what is expected of artists in an increasingly digital age. We were also delighted to extend these workshops to University of Waikato vocal students, who gained a great deal from the opportunity.
Julien said:
“Getting to know TANZOS has left me very impressed. I was delighted to be able to contribute to such a remarkable programme, which nurtures with passion and generosity some of the finest young artists from New Zealand and the Pacific. It is an invaluable asset that deserves wholehearted support for the rigorous training, mentorship and connections with working professionals it provides, offering its apprentices the best possible preparation to take their place on the international opera stage.”
Olivia reflected:
“Bringing in professionals currently working in the business to work with the students gives those in the programme a unique and very valuable perspective that would otherwise be challenging to ascertain given the geographic distance. Supporting talent in this region is certainly very important as the opera world needs to hear their voices, and see this wonderful country represented on the stages of the world”
Julien and Olivia also conducted auditions for our students and alumni, followed by individual feedback sessions. This is precisely the kind of access to the international industry that money simply cannot buy.
We have also been fortunate to welcome back some wonderful members of our extended TANZOS family. Sharolyn Kimmorley has joined us for several week-long residencies, including workshops on song and professional expectations, while both Sharolyn and David Harper have continued working with our cohort as guest coaches. We are incredibly fortunate to benefit from the extraordinary depth of knowledge and experience these artists bring to our singers. Sharolyn also played for the auditions with Julien and Olivia.
Most recently, we welcomed Justin Way, Director of Productions at Teatro Real in Madrid and former Chief Staff Director at The Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Justin is an immensely experienced opera director, and our cohort benefited from a week of individual sessions focused on characterisation in preparation for their role studies, alongside in-depth work on text and stagecraft.
As mentioned, our artists also enjoyed a wonderful masterclass with Romain Dumas, conductor of Wellington Opera’s Manon, which starred Pene Pati and Amina Edris. The session focused particularly on French repertoire and gave our singers the opportunity to explore this repertoire in greater depth with an internationally experienced conductor. The students received a wonderful suprise when Pene popped in to observe some of the session and took the time to share some inspiring words of wisdom with the artists.
Our cohort was also involved in A Night at the Opera, the inaugural gala concert of the Night at the Opera Trust, established to present an annual fundraising event at Hamilton’s beautiful new BNZ Regional Theatre. Directed by John Davies and conducted by Michael Joel with the Opus Orchestra, the concert featured our alumnus Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono (currently singing Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni at The Royal Opera in London) reunited on stage with all three of his brothers, as well as our current cohort and alumni, Edward Smith, Katherine Winitana and guest artists, Felicity Tomkins and Katie Trigg.
It has been an extraordinarily full and rewarding few months, and I continue to feel immensely grateful for the generosity of the artists, teachers, organisations and supporters who make these opportunities possible for our singers. The chance to learn from professionals working at the highest levels of the international industry, while continuing to build their skills and careers here in Aotearoa, is invaluable.
Ngā mihi nui,
Madeleine Pierard
Dame Malvina Major Chair in Opera
Te Pae Kōkako TANZOS Director
University of Waikato
Alumni News...
The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest took place in July, with 6 of the 12 semi-finalists being TANZOS alumni. Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono (2024/25), Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono (2023), Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono (2025/26), Samuel McKeever (2024/25), Sarah Mileham (2025/26), and Ridge Ponini (2024/25) all shone in the semi-finals, with Jordan, Faamanu, and Sarah all progressing through to the final. Congratulations to all finalists, with a special mention to Sarah Mileham who was awarded the prize for runner-up. You can watch the final here.
Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono (2024/25), Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono (2023), Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono (2025/26), and Tomairangi Henare (2025/26) were all selected as semi-finalists in the Sydney Eisteddfod, with Tomairangiprogressing to the competition final.
Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono (2024/25) was selected as a finalist in the Joan Sutherland Richard Bonynge Foundation Bel Canto Award in Sydney, where he placed fourth and received the Tait Memorial Trust award.
Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono (2025/26) was award first prize in the ODT Southern Aria as part of the Dunedin Performing Arts Competitions Society Senior Vocal. Current TANZOS artist, Cadence Chung, took out second prize.
Jasmine Jessen (2024/25) and Sarah Mileham (2025/26) starred as Javotte and Poussette in Wellington Opera’s sold-out season of Manon, featuring acclaimed artists Amina Edris and Pene Pati.
Samuel McKeever (2024/25) and Edward Smith (2025 Associate Artist) starred as Count Almaviva and Figaro in National Youth Opera Aotearoa's production of Le nozze di Figaro in Hastings.
Cecilia Yufan Zhang (2023) has begun her tenure with the Wilhelmsen Opera Studio for Young Singers at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet where she will sing in The Rake’s Progress, Anna Karenina and Cosi fan tutte during the 2026/27 season.
In his second year as a Jette Parker Artist at the Royal Ballet & Opera, Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono (2023) will take to the Covent Garden stage in Don Giovanni, Parsifal, Un ballo in maschera, Die Zauberflöte and Il trittico.
Upcoming Performances...
TANZOS Art Song Showcase
Join our cohort of TANZOS artists for our second showcase recital as part of the University of Waikato Conservatoirium of Music Lunchtime Recital Series. In this intimate recital, TANZOS strips things back, treating you to a potpourri of Art Song repertoire, where the interplay of voice and piano is brought to the fore. Prepare to be transported as poem is rendered into song, with each piece offering a vignette of life in all its beauty, pain, and splendour.
23 September 1pm, Concert Chamber, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton - Tickets available here
TANZOS Artist Recitals
TANZOS Artist Recitals: Our first-year cohort will present their first solo recitals as TANZOS artists. All recitals will take place in the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts Concert Chamber – entry by koha.
4pm Friday 16 October – Rose Aldridge
7pm Tuesday 20 October – Cadence Chung
7pm Wednesday 21 October – Emma Jones
7pm Thursday 22 October – Szilvia Hernyak
7pm Friday 23 October – Caitlin Roberts
If you’re on social media, we encourage you to follow our journey and keep up to date with our artists and activities, or visit us at www.tanzos.org.
We would like to sincerely thank all those who support Te Pae Kōkako TANZOS. Our programme relies entirely on donor generosity, and your support enables us to continue providing world-class training opportunities for New Zealand’s emerging opera artists. If you would like to be part of this effort, please visit www.tanzos.org/support
If you know of anyone who might be interested in hearing more about Te Pae Kōkako - The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio, please ask them to contact tepaekokako@waikato.ac.nz to be added to our mailing list.