The Tauranga Opera Forum is set to present an afternoon of operatic favourites at its upcoming fundraising concert, at 3pm on Sunday, November 30, at St Peter’s in the City.

Compered by George Bryant, the event forms part of the popular TOF Sunday Concert Series.

This year’s concert features a special homecoming by NZ/British tenor Aidan Thomas Phillips, returning to Tauranga after recent engagements on the European opera circuit.

He will be joined by two rising local performers and TOFT Scholarship recipients, Yanni Corsame (2023–2024) and Jacob West (2024–2025), creating a programme that pairs seasoned artistry with youthful talent.

TOF chair John Hodgson said the concert arose from a generous offer by Phillips.

“A few weeks ago, Aidan emailed me from the UK saying he would like to offer a fundraising recital for Tauranga Opera Forum, as we had been so supportive of him in the past,” Hodgson said.

“We first featured Aidan several years ago at our Historic Village concerts, so I immediately accepted. Our patron, Greg Brownless, has also been instrumental in helping bring this concert together.”

The programme opens with Yanni Corsame performing Debussy’s Clair de Lune, followed by Jacob West singing Secret Love from Calamity Jane. Phillips then takes the stage with a sweeping selection from the Baroque and Romantic eras, performing excerpts from Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Grieg, Bridge, Strauss, Wagner, Leoncavallo, Bizet and Massenet.

Corsame and West return with two beloved Puccini arias – Corsame with O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi and West with E lucevan le stelle from Tosca. Phillips will close the concert with Mein Sehnen from Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt and Dein ist mein ganzes Herz from Lehar’s Das Land des Lachelns.

Phillips, a former student of the New Zealand Opera School (2020–2022), completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music, where he was a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholar. He graduated in 2023 with BMus (Hons) and MMus (Hons) in Classical Vocal Performance.

Jacob West, 17, is a Year 12 student at Bethlehem College. In 2025 he received PACANZ nominations in Musical Theatre and Speech and Drama, placing first in Musical Theatre’s major class and third in Speech and Drama. He also won the Classical Singing Junior Programme class (15-18 years). West hopes to study at a prestigious performing arts institution such as WAAPA or NIDA.

Yanni Corsame, 17, a Year 13 student at Tauranga Girls’ College, is active in both musical theatre and opera. She recently starred as Cinderella in the 2025 Tauranga Boys’ and Girls’ College production and has previously played the Killer Queen in We Will Rock You.

Founded to foster opera and performing arts in the Bay of Plenty, the Tauranga Opera Forum supports young performers through concerts, competitions, scholarships and education. As a voluntary organisation, it relies on donors, sponsors and community partners for its continued work.

To support TOF or learn more, email: tof.scholarships@xtra.co.nz

The Tauranga Opera Forum is set to present a sparkling afternoon of operatic favourites at its upcoming fundraising concert, held at 3pm on Sunday, November 30, at St Peter’s in the City. The event, compered by George Bryant is part of the popular TOFT Sunday Concert Series.

Sunday’s concert features a special homecoming performance by NZ/British tenor Aidan Thomas Phillips, returning to Tauranga fresh from engagements on the European opera circuit. Phillips will be joined by emerging local talents and TOFT Scholarship recipients Yanni Corsame (2023–2024) and Jacob West (2024–2025), creating a programme that blends experience with youthful promise.

Tenor Aidan Thomas Phillips. Photo / Supplied.

TOF chair John Hodgson said the concert came about through a generous offer from Phillips.“A few weeks ago, Aidan emailed me from the UK saying he would like to offer a fundraising recital for Tauranga Opera Forum, as we had been so supportive of him in the past,” Hodgson said. “We first featured Aidan several years ago at our Historic Village concerts, so I immediately accepted. Our patron, Greg Brownless, has also been instrumental in helping bring this concert together.”

The afternoon opens with Yanni Corsame performing Debussy’s Clair de Lune, followed by Jacob West singing Secret Love from Calamity Jane.

Phillips will then take the stage with a sweeping selection from the Baroque and Romantic eras, performing a lineup that includes Dies Bildnis from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Dovunque al mondo from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Adoration by Bridge, Ein Traum by Grieg, Cäcilie by Strauss, Ein Schwert from Wagner’s Die Walküre, Vesti la giubba from Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci, La fleur from Bizet’s Carmen, and Oui! ce qu’elle m’ordonne… Lorsque enfant from Massenet’s Werther.

Corsame and West return with two beloved Puccini arias—Corsame with O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi, and West with E lucevan le stelle from Tosca.

Jacob West, a student at Bethlehem College, will be performing at the Tauranga Opera Forum on Sunday, November 30. Photo / Supplied.

Phillips will close the concert with Mein Sehnen from Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt and Dein ist mein ganzes Herz from Lehár’s Das Land des Lächelns.

A former student of the NZ Opera School (2020–2022), Phillips completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music, where he was a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholar. He graduated in 2023 with BMus (Hons) and MMus (Hons) in Classical Vocal Performance. Jacob West, 17, is a Year 12 student at Bethlehem College. In 2025 he received PACANZ nominations in both Musical Theatre and Speech and Drama, placing first in Musical Theatre’s major class and third in the Speech and Drama major class. He also won the Classical Singing Junior Programme class (15–18 yrs).

“Jacob recently had a starring role in Jersey Boys which raised a lot of interest in him,” Hodgson said.

“I aspire to gain entry to a reputable performing arts institution such as WAAPA or NIDA, where I can continue to pursue singing and musical theatre as a career,” West said.

Tauranga Girls College student Yanni Corsame will be performing at the Tauranga Opera Forum on Sunday, November 30. Photo / Supplied.

Yanni Corsame, 17, is a Year 13 student at Tauranga Girls’ College and an active performer in both musical theatre and opera. She recently starred as Cinderella in the 2025 joint production by Tauranga Boys’ and Girls’ Colleges and has previously played the Killer Queen in We Will Rock You.

“Yanni recently sung the National Anthem at the Tauranga Racecourse before the Japan Cup was run,” Hodgson said.

Founded to foster and promote opera and the performing arts in the Bay of Plenty, the Tauranga Opera Forum works to nurture local talent through concerts, competitions, scholarships and educational opportunities. As a voluntary organisation, TOF relies heavily on the generosity of donors, sponsors and community partners.

Support can take many forms—from one-off or regular donations to the gifting of a legacy or the sponsorship of a scholarship or prize. Every contribution helps empower young New Zealand performers to reach their full potential.

To support the work of the Tauranga Opera Forum, contact: tof.scholarships@xtra.co.nz