Books and Brahms at Whanganui riverside market

Saturday shoppers heard a different kind of singing at Whanganui River Traders market last week.

Aspiring opera singer Lauren Karl said she had not thought about busking until she was encouraged by her mother Anne Galpin to give it a go.

"Mum hears a lot of people singing at the market when she has her regular book stall and said I should give it a try.

"I was nervous but I really enjoyed it," said Ms Karl.

Home for the holidays, the 20-year-old is studying towards her bachelor of music majoring in classical voice at Waikato University.

"I didn't know what sort of reaction I would get at the markets but a lot of people stopped to listen.

"It was a very different kind of performing experience and I really enjoyed singing to some children who stopped by."

Ms Karl said she started singing as a 6-year-old and received encouragement from her mother and father Andrew Karl.

Music student Lauren Karl enjoyed her first busking experience in Whanganui last weekend. Photo by Bevan Conley.

"I could not have got this far without their ongoing support and I will pay them back big time one day," said the singer.

Whanganui mentor Lyn Shackleton guided her singing while she attended Whanganui Girls College and later Wanganui Collegiate.

"I went to Hamilton to attend Hillcrest High School for my final year and I have had wonderful training with Jane Tankersley and Ian Campbell.

"My current teacher Glenese Blake has developed and supported my voice so much during the past year."

Ms Karl said New Zealand tenor Simon O'Neill is an opera singer she greatly admires and she first met him in Whanganui during Opera Week.

"I don't have a classification for my voice yet and I won't know which category I fit in to until I'm about 26."

On her parents' Durie Hill balcony, she seems to have no trouble singing Die Mainacht by Brahms for the Chronicle in high key F#.

She has plans to attend some 2018 Whanganui Opera Week events and said she will probably have another turn at busking during next week's River Traders Market as well.