Rotorua's Elizabeth stuns critics at her album launch in Auckland

Everyone hates an over achiever - that's until you meet singing sensation Elizabeth Marvelly from Rotorua.

Those words from TV One's Close Up presenter Mark Sainsbury, who hosted Marvelly's debut album launch in Auckland yesterday, summed up the extraordinarily talented 18-year-old.

The launch of her self-titled debut album at the swanky Partinghams Langham Hotel in front of 60 media and industry guests was a day Marvelly has dreamed about since a little girl.

She has been signed by EMI Classics London and it was announced yesterday she is to tour in April next year with Paul Potts, the opera phenomenon and winner of Britain's Got Talent. The four-date New Zealand tour includes Rotorua.

In introducing Marvelly yesterday, Sainsbury said she did everything exceptionally well.

"The list almost nauseatingly goes on - but that is until you meet her. She is simply the most wonderful person you could ever meet."

In contrast, her producer, Carl Doy, said he had heard plenty of wonderful things about Marvelly but that meant nothing unless she could sing.

"My reaction was she might be all that but that doesn't mean she is any good as a singer - then I heard her and was delightfully surprised."

Her manager, Gray Bartlett, said Marvelly was the entire package.

"Within two years, she will be a major international success story. I am talking to UK people as we speak."

Marvelly sang her single Love Can Build a Bridge - a remake of the hit by country music mother and daughter The Judds - original song When You Are Sad and powerful Maori song Tarakihi.

She said having original songs on her album was important and When You Are Sad spoke about child abuse, an issue she felt needed to be brought into the public eye.



Sir Howard Morrison surprised Marvelly by attending her launch and she returned the gesture by inviting him on stage to sing Love Is All.

She described Sir Howard, who is a relative, as an incredible influence.

Sir Howard, in typical humour, took the stage and said "as unaccustomed as I am to being a supporting act, we are family".

Marvelly has recorded her album before sitting Year 13 exams. The boarding student at Auckland's King's College is Head of House, Head of Culture and a school prefect. She is a straight A student but outside of the classroom captains the school's top hockey and soccer teams. She has won 2005 and 2006 national scholarships for speech and drama and passed Grade Eight Piano with distinction.

Sir Howard summarised Marvelly's talents by saying to the crowd at the end of the launch "if she gives it up, she will probably become the prime minister".