Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • 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

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

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

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

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 / Whanganui Chronicle

NZ Opera School tutor Glenn Winslade and students wow Whanganui audience

By Lin Ferguson
Whanganui Chronicle·
13 Jan, 2020 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

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

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

International tutor Glenn Winslade (right) at the Master Class with baritone Samuel Downes and accompanist Sharolyn Kimmorley. Photo / Supplied

International tutor Glenn Winslade (right) at the Master Class with baritone Samuel Downes and accompanist Sharolyn Kimmorley. Photo / Supplied

A New Zealand Opera School Master Class at Whanganui Collegiate's auditorium was exactly that: a vocal class led by a maestro.

The maestro vocal coach at Friday night's class was Australian Glenn Winslade, a fine and infinitely patient tutor who is renowned as one of the finest teachers of vocal technique in the world.

With a strong presence, Winslade had the capacity audience riveted.

The world-acclaimed tenor said sadly his stellar career had ended with an accident onstage with the Vienna State Opera during a performance.

His character had been suspended above the stage, seated on a sofa.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A explosion destined for the back of the sofa went horribly wrong and hit Winslade in his spine, resulting his voice completely failing from then on.

"I knew I had to retire. It was a very tragic time for me."

READ MORE:
• Best of 2019: NZ Opera School enjoys grand finale in Whanganui
• NZ Opera School brings $800,000 to Whanganui
• The New Zealand Opera School celebrates 25 years in Whanganui
• Opera School turns 25: New stars still being born

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After returning to Australia he was referred to an ENT (ear, nose and throat) team in Adelaide who were "way ahead of anyone in the world in vocal research".

"Though my singing voice returned I decided to stay, teach and scientifically research the voice," Winslade said.

"Always remember," he told the four students on stage with him on Friday, "your body is an instrument … you must inhabit it always."

In one-on-one 20 minute lessons the four students were put through their vocal paces, first singing a complete aria then repeating phrases again under Winslade's sure and thorough tutelage.

Discover more

Opera students ready to move to new levels

07 Jan 04:00 PM

She was meant to play the piano but her voice struck the right chord

08 Jan 04:00 PM

Review: Opera recital balm for the soul

09 Jan 04:00 PM

Trio find their voices at NZ Opera School

10 Jan 04:00 PM

The results were staggering as Winslade rearranged their bodies and breathing, from their pelvises to their ears.

Soprano Carla Camilleri gasped with astonishment as Winslade led her into breathing and body changes, completely transforming her performance. Tears glistened in her eyes as Winslade assured her that she had a beautiful voice and, with the right physical work with her body sustaining her breathing, she would be unstoppable.

And soprano Michaela Cadwgan was impressive as she too submitted to the rigorous tutorial.

Winslade told her she had a glorious voice and to work hard so technique became second nature.

"Develop your technique so you can perform onstage without nerves and be confident in your voice."

Baritone Samuel Downes, who towered onstage like a rep men's basketball player, had a voice that initially reverberated throughout the auditorium.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But by the time Winslade had tweaked his chin position, his neck and even his ears, Downes' voice had deepened and flowed with ease. His is a voice that will resound around any opera house, no matter how big, in the years to come.

Winslade closed by saying how delighted he was to be at the school.

"This is a very fine school and these young singers are fortunate to be here."

Premium gold
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

11 Jul 06:00 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Opinion

Shelley Loader: How we can all get a share of the apples

11 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

11 Jul 06:00 PM

Former members are 'more than welcome' to return, RSA Welfare Trust president says.

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Shelley Loader: How we can all get a share of the apples

Shelley Loader: How we can all get a share of the apples

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Major Joanna Margaret Paul exhibition opens

Major Joanna Margaret Paul exhibition opens

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

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
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • 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