It has been quite a while since opera singer Jonathan Lemalu was at school.
"What does year 9 mean? " he asked a gathering of choir members and music pupils at Otago Boys' High School yesterday.
When told it was the same as the third form, he chuckled.
"Well, why don't they just call it the third form then?
" Lemalu left Dunedin 12 years ago to study at the Royal College of Music in London and is now in demand at opera halls around the world, with his diary booked up for the next three years.
The Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone was invited back to his former high school yesterday by OBHS head of music Rob Duffy.
When questioned, he revealed the lowest note he could reach was a B flat, which drew a gasp of admiration from the pupils.
"But you rarely get to use those notes. It's more of a party trick," he said.
"Even at 35, my voice is still changing. The sweet spot of my voice is much lower now. My voice won't come to its peak until about 40."
He also explained the mechanics of being a singer and getting the best performance from "your instrument".
"The throat is like a keyboard, but the pedals are in the abdomen, or sternum, That's where your vocal core is," he said. "But, at your age it's about enjoyment. If you put work in you enjoy the rewards more. I think that's a metaphor for life."
He also revealed he was not confident about last night's Rugby World Cup clash between Samoa and South Africa.
"But as long as we leave a few Springboks on the floor, that's all right."
Lemalu will sing the national anthem of one of the Rugby World Cup semifinalists next month.
Otago Daily Times "Big Night In" national artist Ainslie Allen will also be performing one of the semifinal national anthems.
