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Sarah Mileham
Voice Type
Soprano
Home Town
Tauranga
How did you become interested in opera singing?
Through involvement in school music groups such as concert band, choir, jazz band and school musicals, I always knew that i’d pursue something musical. My first singing teacher, the late Roger Stevenson, introduced me to the world of opera with my first aria ‘Voi che sapete’, and then funnily enough the first opera I ever watched live was the Marriage of Figaro put on by NZ Opera in 2021. I fell in love with everything about Opera after that and I knew that was what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
Performance highlights so far?
In 2024, I made my debut with NZ Opera singing ‘Maria Bertram’, a principal role, in Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove and ‘Countess Ceprano’ in Verdi’s Rigoletto. I also sang the role of Adina in Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love NZO Schools Tour, which travelled Aotearoa.
I am reprising both 'Maria Bertram' and 'Adina' for NZ Opera in 2025.
What are you looking forward to about being part of TANZOS?
To me, TANZOS is the perfect step before a singer before going overseas. I cannot wait to learn heaps of new repertoire with the support and teachings of the incredible staffon board. I also want to solidify my understanding of healthy singing and what the correct technique feels like. I look forward to being busy and constantly learning new things to put in my tool box.
What are your career hopes following TANZOS?
Following TANZOS, I hope to go straight into a Young Artist Programme or Work overseas. I am aiming for an opportunity that will bring me the most stage experience so I can get straight into learning on the job. I am currently most interested in the German Opera houses as it seems work is most stable over there, but I am also open to the states or anywhere else in Europe if the programme fits.
Sarah is supported by The Dame Malvina Major Foundation
Biography
Sarah Mileham is a 22 year old Soprano from Tauranga and now based in Hamilton. In 2023, she finished her Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington under the tuition of Jenny Wollerman. She has just completed her Bachelor of Music with Honours at Waikato University with Soprano Anna Leese.
In 2024, Sarah made her debut with NZ Opera singing ‘Maria Bertram’, a principal role, in Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove and ‘Countess Ceprano’ in Verdi’s Rigoletto. She also sang the role of Adina in Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love NZO Schools Tour, which travelled Aotearoa. She has been awarded first at the 2024 Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition, the DMMF Waikato Aria Competition, the Norah Howell Recital Class, and Te Awamutu Aria. She has also been a finalist in the Lockwood NZ Aria (2023), Runner up in Christchurch (2023,2024) and Wellington Aria Finals (2023), and received the Merle Higgie Opera Prize for Potential at her first New Zealand Opera School this year. Sarah is excited to grow her professional career and is looking forward to future further studies overseas.