Dame Kiri Te Kanawa could pay a flying visit to the Wanganui Opera School at Wanganui Collegiate in January.
The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation (KTK) is sponsoring the school's final night concert Moments of Opera 2012 on January 13 at the Royal Wanganui Opera House.
Now in its 18th year,(the school runs from January 3 to January 14), Dame Kiri said the foundation wanted to support the important live-in school for young New Zealand singers to develop their skills.
School director Donald Trott said the work done by the school's patron Dame Catherine Tizard, together with Rodney McCann, who was now on the board of the KTK, had succeeded in getting the valuable sponsorship.
Mr McCann had visited the school over the past two years and been delighted with what he had experienced, Mr Trott said.
"This is a breakthrough for the school and the community of Wanganui to have the foundation of undoubtedly New Zealand's most prestigious opera singer, who had a stratospheric rise in the art form in so many places around the world, and is still now adored by fans everywhere today."
Dame Catherine is planning to be in Wanganui for the concert, with other KTK Foundation representatives.
"We would be absolutely delighted if Dame Kiri herself can make the journey. What must be borne in mind though is that this is her holiday time from a pretty exhausting touring schedule. We shall see," Mr Trott said.
