New Zealand Singer Wins Major International Scholarship

New Zealand Singer Wins Major International Scholarship

New Zealand Bass-Baritone James Ioelu is the inaugural winner of the Victoria League Scholarship in Singing which carries 12-months accommodation at the Victoria League’s London base. The scholarship is sponsored by the Victoria League in Auckland in association with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation which has also presented a special grant to cover James’ tuition fees while he is studying at the National Opera Studio.

James has been accepted into the 2015-16 National Opera Studio program (only 12 places are offered each year from hundreds of applications) which is considered one of the most prestigious training programs in the UK not only because of its extensive curriculum but also because of the exposure and relationship with the six biggest Opera houses in the UK.

Commenting on the awards Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (Chair of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation) described James as a young singer with great potential – “I am delighted that the Foundation is able to support him at this important stage of his singing development. The invitation to join the National Opera Studio program comes at the right time for James because it will provide a sound benchmark from which to develop his talent and keep that forward momentum on track”, she said.

Acknowledging the scholarship James Ioelu said he felt very honoured - “most young singers need to take up a second job to be able to fund living and training in a very expensive city. So to have accommodation and tuition fees funded will allow me to maximise the opportunity I have been given. Many thanks to the Victoria League for this generosity and to the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundaton for their tireless efforts in helping young singers” he said.

Congratulating James, Beverley Johnson Chairman of the Victoria League in Auckland said “we are absolutely delighted to be able to work with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation to play a key role in supporting this very talented singer’s development.”

James Ioelu was recently placed in three major Australasian competitions – winning the NZ Aria and being runner up in both the Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Competition and the Sydney Eistedfodd Aria Competition. He has also secured a coveted spot at the Merola Opera programme in San Francisco where he will perform the title role in Don Pasquale.

ENDS

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