COMPETING: Declan Cudd is the only Rotorua competitor in the open aria category at the New Zealand Aria finals this weekend. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Declan Cudd will wave the Rotorua flag when he gets on stage at this weekend's prestigious New Zealand Aria competition.
Winning the sought-after title has been made even better this year with a massive boost to the prize packages. The winner will get the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Prize valued
at $20,000, consisting of $5000 towards tuition or audition fees, $5000 towards entry in the McDonalds Aria in Sydney and $10,000 cash.
The bigger prize package has caught the eye of some already big names in the industry with Amitai Pati from the popular classical trio Sol3 Mio entering. Another, American Lauren Michelle, is coming to Rotorua fresh from being in the top five at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World contest.
Guest artist for the finals concert on Sunday is Pene Pati, Amitai's brother and fellow member of Sol3 Mio.
Mr Cudd will be the only Rotorua entrant in the aria section. Now studying in Wellington, he grew up in Rotorua where he attended John Paul College and was involved in many school and local productions.
