Taylor Wallbank
Voice Type
Tenor
Home Town
Flaxmere, Hastings
Iwi
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Heretaunga
How did you become interested in opera singing?
I originally joined the school choir with some friends doing barbershop. I later found out from the same guys that they were doing Opera with Project Prima Volta. I joined PPV and left my sporting pathway to focus on singing.
Performance highlights so far?
Messiah 2021 with Napier Civic Choir
L’Elisir D’amore 2014 with Festival Opera
Carmen 2016 with Festival Opera.
Photo © John Wansbrough
Photo © Charles Brooks
What are you looking forward to about being part of TANZOS?
Hands on focused intensive teaching that will be specialised and tailored to me. The opportunities presented are once in a lifetime as well and a great starting point for a potential overseas career.
What are your career hopes following TANZOS?
A chance to further develop overseas with international tutors such as Jack Livigni and also career opportunities to learn and earn on the job. Overall - to be able to work and have fun while not having to worry about my financial situation and sing the works I fell in love with.
Taylor Wallbank is supported by an Anonymous Donor
Biography
Taylor Wallbank first encountered opera through Project Prima Volta in Hawkes Bay. He recently completed his Bachelor of Music (Hons) at The University of Waikato and is now an inaugural TANZOS Artist.
Taylor debuted his singing career as Le Remendado (Carmen) in Festival Opera’s Production in 2017. He also sang the role of Gastone (La Traviata) for Festival Opera in 2018 and has performed as both soloist and chorister for Napier Civic Choir for several years. In 2022 (and again in 2023 during the Hamilton Gardens Festival), Taylor sang the role of Rinuccio in UoW's production of 'Gianni Schicchi' to great acclaim.
Taylor continues performing around New Zealand as an oratorio soloist in Whakatane, Tauranga and Hamilton for works such as Handel's Messiah, Durante’s Magnificat, Saint-Saën’s Christmas Oratorio and many others amongst his studies.
Taylor was awarded a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship worth up to $10,000 per year during his undergraduate years for his contribution and efforts in music. In 2019 he received another $1000 scholarship from Greenlea Foundation Trust after placing second in the Waikato Aria Competition, despite being in his first year of study.