Orchestrated success

Jessie White, Shenazzar St Lucia and Tamsyn Harawira. Photo: Sharnae Hope.

Two aspiring singers will be awarded a $2800 scholarship to crescendo their opera careers.

Tauranga Opera Forum - a group of volunteers who enjoy opera - are awarding scholarships to two Tauranga students.

The scholarships will go to students from either Tauranga Girls College or Bethlehem College to provide singing tuition to further their studies next year.

Tauranga Opera Forum chair John Hodgson says there will be an audition concert on November 29 where five students will each sing two classical songs.

'They will then be judged by a panel of judges who will be looking for potential and people who have a bent towards opera,” says John.

'Opera's not for everyone, but for those who do have an interest, this is an opportunity for young singers to get a boost up.”

Accompanist Mora James says most of the students come from a contemporary background and the competition has been a building tool to develop operatic skills and widen their capabilities.

'It's a wonderful opportunity,” she says, 'Not every child is born into a family that has lots of money to spend on things like their musical endeavours, so having a group of people to provide tuition for a year saves a substantial outlay.”

Tauranga Girls College student Tania Lawson, who will be going against four other students next week, says the competition is a great opportunity to grow and develop her skills in opera.

Jessie White, from Tauranga Girls College, says this is the first time they have both taken part in a competition.

'It's a little bit nerve racking to think of what it's going to be like walking on stage and seeing all the faces in the crowd, but I'm excited as well,” says Jessie.

The audition concert will be on Wednesday, November 29 at 5.30pm at the Graham Young Youth Theatre at Tauranga Boys College at 664 Cameron Road.

Tickets will be $20 per person and can be purchased at the House of Travel on Spring Street or the Bureta Pharmacy at Bureta Shopping Centre.

Announcement of the winners of the 2018 Singing Scholarships will be made at the end of the evening.

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