Record entries for aria singing contest

New Zealand Aria judge Geoffrey Chard congratulates last year's finalists who are joined on stage with the orchestra. Photo / Supplied

A record number of entries have been received by organisers for the Waiariki Institute of Technology New Zealand Aria singing contest, with a large number of singers from host city Rotorua.

Spokeswoman Alison Perrin said the main competition - the New Zealand Aria over-18 years section - had attracted 45 entries, two more than last year, including one entry from the United Kingdom and two entries from Australia.

This year's competition will be at the Rotorua Convention Centre starting on Friday, November 1. Heats end with the main event on November 3.

Double the number of entries in the under-21 year section have been received this year with 23 singers - almost twice as many entries from 2012 - all vying for the $500 first prize.

Singers in the under-21 section must show a wide range of skills, and are required to enter four category classes - operatic aria, oratorio, leader song and a song of their own choice - which takes each singer around 20-30 minutes .

The third component of the competition - the Maori Song contest - has attracted 19 singers.

There will also be regional prizes for singers from Bay of Plenty and Waikato centres.

The impressive entry list in the under-21 section confirm the competition is "growing, and not dying", said organiser Jo-Anne La Grouw.

"These are the young singers of the future who will one day enter the main aria section so the competition was in good hands," she said.

"It confirmed the event is still considered one of the most prestigious classical singing contests in Australasia."

Ten singers from the main aria contest will be selected to perform at the finals on the last night of the event, vying for the $15,000 first prize.

Three finalists from the Maori Song contest will also perform on the Sunday night.

Each finalist will be accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Tom Woods.

The 50-strong orchestra will be joined by the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus for workshops through the weekend, and will perform on Sunday night.

"Being backed by a full orchestra can be overwhelming for some singers, but it can also help to lift their performance," Mrs La Grouw said.

Judges this year are Sydney tenor Graham Pushee, and mezzo soprano Bernadette Cullen, formerly of Brisbane.

Tickets for the finals can be obtained from Ticketmaster. Prices are: adults $55, students $40, senior citizens $40, and supper $20.