Hawkes Bay Today
  • Hawke's Bay Today home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Havelock North
  • Central Hawke's Bay
  • Tararua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Singing school starts on high note

By Amy Shanks
Hawkes Bay Today·
7 Jan, 2015 04:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Megan Riegal (left), Auckland and Christina Watson, Hamilton, taking part in an Opera Massed Chorus, one of the first classes at the New Zealand Singing School. PHOTO / DUNCAN BROWN
Megan Riegal (left), Auckland and Christina Watson, Hamilton, taking part in an Opera Massed Chorus, one of the first classes at the New Zealand Singing School. PHOTO / DUNCAN BROWN

Megan Riegal (left), Auckland and Christina Watson, Hamilton, taking part in an Opera Massed Chorus, one of the first classes at the New Zealand Singing School. PHOTO / DUNCAN BROWN

Singing filled classrooms, halls and lecture theatres as the prestigious IFAC Handa New Zealand Singing School got off to a soaring start at EIT in Taradale, yesterday.

Patron and actor George Henare flew down to open the school last night and ended up stepping in to help with classes.

"It was great to see he got involved, that wasn't planned at all ... it's great everyone is so excited to be here and the faculty all love coming back," New Zealand Singing School chairwoman Jill Tobin said.

The 11-day biennial event is one of a kind in Australasia and has attracted 72 students from throughout the country.

Now in its 28th year, the school sought singers with recognisable talent from here and across the ditch.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A 35-strong faculty from New Zealand, Australia, England, the United States and the Netherlands was handpicked to suit this year's focus on Inhabiting the Text.

It was a theme that flowed through the curriculum, there would also be a strong emphasis on English diction and Italian language.

"We are striving to give students insight on how to bring a piece of music alive," Ms Tobin said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"This takes an understanding of the composer, the lyrics, and the significance of the piece within the opera or musical. Researching and reflecting on all these elements, gives a richer performance."

The school was unique in that it covered both music theatre and classical musical genres, seen as being very important for a productive career.

New Zealand baritone, Robert Tucker returned to the school as Artist in Residence, providing a useful insight for students.

He followed the footsteps of broadway music theatre star Liz Callaway and Napier-born lyric soprano Anna Leese.

Discover more

US exposure inspires shift in duo's sound

20 Jan 05:00 PM

"We are excited to have Robert with us, [he] has settled back in New Zealand, although he continues to perform internationally.

"Very importantly, he is an alumni of the school and will relate well to the students."

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Hawkes Bay Today

Hawkes Bay Today

SPCA speaks out as trend of dumping pets at its entrance in winter grows

Premium
Hawkes Bay Today

A wish upon a shooting star: Can Ellie Bird get her crowning glory?

Premium
Hawkes Bay Today

Cricket: Angus Schaw's nine wickets and prized scalp


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

Legal obligation: ICJ ruling pushes states on climate action
World

Legal obligation: ICJ ruling pushes states on climate action

Herald Hat-trick sports quiz: July 24
Sport

Herald Hat-trick sports quiz: July 24

'Torches' and 'pitchforks': Turbulence in council water debate
Rotorua Daily Post

'Torches' and 'pitchforks': Turbulence in council water debate

The $70m property sale that could save harness racing 
Racing

The $70m property sale that could save harness racing 

Rare disorder derails young footballer’s US dreams
Bay of Plenty Times

Rare disorder derails young footballer’s US dreams

SPCA speaks out as trend of dumping pets at its entrance in winter grows
Hawkes Bay Today

SPCA speaks out as trend of dumping pets at its entrance in winter grows



Latest from Hawkes Bay Today

SPCA speaks out as trend of dumping pets at its entrance in winter grows
Hawkes Bay Today

SPCA speaks out as trend of dumping pets at its entrance in winter grows

Talk to us first, don't just leave them in duffle bags or tied to the gate, the SPCA says.

23 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
Premium
A wish upon a shooting star: Can Ellie Bird get her crowning glory?
Hawkes Bay Today

A wish upon a shooting star: Can Ellie Bird get her crowning glory?

23 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
Premium
Cricket: Angus Schaw's nine wickets and prized scalp
Hawkes Bay Today

Cricket: Angus Schaw's nine wickets and prized scalp

23 Jul 06:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Hawke's Bay Today e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Hawke's Bay Today
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search