THE NEW ZEALAND OPERA SOCIETY

The Trustees of the New Zealand National Singing School are proud to announce that the 24th School will take place at the EIT Campus in Hawke’s Bay from January 2nd to January 11th 2009.

The Trustees are delighted that Judy Bellingham, widely respected Singing Teacher, Adjudicator and Senior Lecturer in Voice at Otago University will return as Artistic Director, supported by Robert Wiremu recently appointed as Director of Music of the NZ Secondary Schools Choir as Deputy Director.

David Harper London based Vocal Coach returns as a Guest Tutor as does Irene Bartlett, Teacher of Jazz/Contemporary Voice at the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University in Brisbane and Terence Dennis, Professor of the Classical Performance Programme at Otago University and Official Accompanist for the Lexus Song Quest.

The Trustees welcome Christine Douglas, Artistic Director of Pacific Opera in Sydney as Opera Director and as Italian Tutor (New Zealander) Marina Posa, Brisbane based singing teacher.

Richard Marrett, Senior Lecturer in the Bachelor of Performing Arts Programme at NASDA in Christchurch, joins the 2009 School as Musical Theatre Director.

Other newcomers for 2009 from Christchurch are Lea Henderson as Accompanist, Jazz and Tap Dance teacher Sandra Rasmussen as Choreographer. David Vine, Wellington based respected Harpsichordist, Conductor and Musical Director of Academy Opera joins as Accompanist.

Dame Kate Harcourt returns as English Tutor as does Te Oti Rakena as German Coach, as well as Catrin Johnsson (UK based Swedish Mezzo Soprano), Glenese Blake, Flora Edwards, Lesley Graham, Peter Hind, Jane Keller, Jenny Wollerman and Janice Webb as Tutors. Returning as Accompanists are Julie Coulson, Rachel Fuller, Fiona McCabe, Hugh McMillan, Susan Melville, Catherine Norton, Colleen Rae-Gerrard and John Wells.

Many students from past schools are internationally recognized singers which affirms the Trustees’ commitment to bringing the very best Tutors to the School and anticipate that the level of teaching expertise assembled for the 2009 school will further enhance the programme.

Further information can be obtained from the School’s website – www.singingschool.org.nz.