Bev Kirkwood
Bev Kirkwood is the doyenne of the New Zealand Opera School held annually at Wanganui Collegiate School.
This is the 24th year of the school that has been lauded and praised over the years by music aficionados throughout the world.
When the school was first started by current chairman and founder Donald Trott in 1994, Bev, an avid fan of opera, stood by his side.
"I always loved opera and I wanted to be part of it. I thought the school was a great idea and wanted to help," she said.
As well as (and on a very small budget) dealing with the advertising and promotional side of things Bev brought the opera school to her home - the beautiful historic of Riverlands beside the Whanganui River.
"It was such lovely home with huge lawns, wonderful trees it was the perfect setting for concerts and recitals."
The first international tutor at the school was Madame Virginia Zeani from the United States who had sung leading soprano roles in the opera houses of Europe and North America.
Zeani was renowned for her dramatic intensity and the beauty, wide range and suppleness of her voice which allowed her to sing a repertoire of 69 roles ranging from the heroines in belcanto operas by Rossini and Donizetti to those of Wagner, Puccini and Verdi.
"She was simply magnificent," Bev said.
One of the first students at that time was tenor Simon O'Neill now well ensconced on the world's opera stages
The international tenor still laughs when he remembers the phone message his dad left for him 23 years ago about his acceptance into the inaugural New Zealand Opera School in Whanganui in 1994.
"I was a young man home for the holidays in Ashburton and my father had written a message that I was to 'call Donald Trump'.
"Pretty amazing stuff in Ashburton ...Donald Trump, crikey! But when I rang a beautifully spoken man answered. It was Donald Trott."
Though word of the New Zealand Opera School in Wanganui has got out around the world people like international tutors Dennis O'Neill and Paul Farrington have sung the school's praises overseas.
"And we are constantly sending fabulous singers into the world which is amazing for such a small country."
For example, 23 years ago, when Zeani first heard Simon's baritone voice she told him to return the next day as a tenor.
Even though he was utterly stricken Simon said working towards singing as a tenor had been amazing.
"Then I realised I had only been given that kind of chance by being accepted into this opera school in the first place.''
During those early years Bev organised and catered glorious opera school events at Riverlands that have never been forgotten.
When the glory of the school really started taking over, 10 years ago Bev knew she needed to form a dedicated committee.
"So I talked to friends and people who loved opera as much as I did" and almost immediately she had nine stalwart and eager people by her side, she said.
The Wanganui Opera Week Committee was well under way.
Members include Pat Cuniffe, Renata Schneider, Dougal MacIntosh, Pauline Calverley, Ian Kirk, Eric Hart, Tristan Stephen, Lynne Gray and Jacquie McGowan.
"It is an excellent team, absolutely committed," 'she said.
"And I am always humbled by the people of Wanganui. It is such a giving community the
people here are always so willing to help us financially."
The promotion of the school includes attractive flyers and programmes, and organising all the events including the spectacular flags hung across the city bridge.
Bev said every tiny detail is taken into account.
"We work to a very high standard which is of critical importance to us all. We do everything to the best of our ability.There are no halfway measures ever."
Bev said the NZ Opera School is the public face of opera in Wanganui.
"We are proud of what we do and very proud that this great school is now well known overseas."