Ben Kubiak's musical skills are vast. Not only is he a skilled repetiteur and accompanist, he is a singer, and composer who is able to take up all musical tasks with alacrity.
Kubiak is a Dame Malvina studio artist and is relishing his role as a repetiteur at the NewZealand Opera School which is under way in Whanganui.
"I'm the chap at the piano who makes faces at the singer if they muck up when they're singing," he said.
Originally from Britain, he moved to New Zealand in 2012 with his family and lives in Auckland.
He studied music at Auckland University and despite his parents hoping he would get a real job in something like accountancy or law, Ben was adamant his career lay in music.
He said the concert last Sunday in the Whanganui Collegiate Auditorium featuring singers Pene Pati, Amina Edris, Simon O'Neill and Emma Pearson was absolutely world class.
Student Sid Chand with Dame Malvina Major on stage at this year's masterclass as part of the New Zealand Opera School. Photo / John Wansbrough
"They could have been on any of the world stages. It was extraordinary. So never ever think it is just little New Zealand, this was international to the core.''
Kubiak is playing eight hours a day at the school and said it was a joy each day to be working hard and being part of the illustrious school now in its 27th year.
As well as working with New Zealand Opera he will also be working on the new Tim Finn opera Star Navigator to be staged in Auckland this year.
He describes himself as one of the immensely lucky ones.
"Yes I am one of the lucky ones who is getting regular work. My music is my work and my love, and you cannot get better than that."
