FEATURE: Aria seeking six of best

PETER WILLIAMS
The Napier Computer Systems Aria Contest is again a major component of the programme for the Napier Performing Arts Competitions Society's Easter Festival, from April 13-17.
In the preliminary round, to be held at 7.30pm on Friday, April 14, in the Century Theatre, Napier, 13 singers will perform with the hope of being among the six chosen to compete in the final in the same venue at 7.30pm on Sunday, April 16.
Five Hawke's Bay singers will compete this year. Edward Carleton-Holmes has a Performance Music Degree from Massey University, is a member of the NBR Opera Chapman-Tripp Chorus and has studied locally with Patrick Power and Illeana Otto-Johansen.
Tenor Martin Beech is currently studying with Lesley Graham in Wellington, has sung in the chorus in Opera Hawke's Bay productions and is currently in the Napier Operatic Society's production of the Threepenny Opera.
Laurence Mane has studied with Patrick Power for the last four years, including three years at the EIT Performing Arts Course and has performed in a number of operatic productions in this area.
Soprano Illeana Otto-Johansen teaches in Central Hawke's Bay, having come to New Zealand from Eastern Germany, where she had wide experience in opera and other solo work.
Alison Cormack gained third place in 2005. Originally from Dannevirke, she has completed a performance degree at Victoria University of Wellington and has had many successes in national contests.
Several other singers from the 2005 contest will also compete again this year. Stephen Chambers from Dunedin has a double degree in Physiology and Music from Otago University and has had considerable success in competitions, and has also had many significant solo engagements.
Alice Collins was a finalist in both 2004 and 2005 in the Lockwood Aria Contest in Rotorua and has wide experience as soloist in both recital and operatic performances.
Megan Corby comes from Wellington where she gained a first-class honours degree at Victoria University and has had extensive experience as a recital soloist and as a member of the NBR Opera Chapman-Tripp Chorus.
Four singers who are new to the HB Aria will compete this year. Soprano Crystel Benton is from Blenheim and studies with Judy Bellingham at the University of Otago in the third year of her music degree, and Frances Moore studies at Victoria University with Emily Mair.
She is a member of the NBR Opera Chapman-Tripp Chorus and has performed as soloist in operatic productions at the University.
Barbara Graham from Wellington has been singing and performing from a young age. She is in her second year of study with Emily Mair and has many solo in stage productions and oratorio to her credit.
Georgia Jamieson-Emms was a member of Tower NZ Youth Choir for five years, was a finalist in the 2005 Lockwood Aria and has completed an Honours Performance Degree at Victoria University.
Sarah-Ann Walker from Christchurch will also compete.
The society is grateful for the generosity of sponsors Napier Computer Systems for the sponsorship of the event, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes of $4000, $3000 and $1000 and the Port of Napier for three finalists' prizes of $500 each. The adjudicator is Barry Mora from Auckland, one of New Zealand's most highly regarded professional opera performers.
He studied here with Beatrice Webster and Maxwell Fernie, completing his vocal studies in London with Otakar Kraus and making his European opera debut as a lyric baritone in Italian repertoire at Gelsenkirchen in 1976.
His distinguished career includes performing for some of the world's most prestigious opera companies, including Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Royal Opera Copenhagen, and he has also performed at the Edinburgh Festival, London's Royal Festival Hall, and with the Berlin Philharmonic.
Closer to home, the first of his many Australian engagements was in 1992 with the Australian Opera (now Opera Australia), and since then he has sung roles for Victoria State Opera and West Australian Opera.
In New Zealand, Barry has appeared on many occasions with Wellington City Opera, Canterbury Opera, Opera New Zealand and The NBR New Zealand Opera.
He has regularly performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia. Now retired from performing, he teaches, adjudicates and serves as a Board Director of The NBR New Zealand Opera and as a trustee of the New Zealand Opera Foundation.
Judging by the standard from previous years, both the preliminary round and the Final will provide exciting and first-class entertainment.
* Admission - Preliminary round $5, students $3. Final - $16, students $8.