The Otago Daily Times has been supporting singers since 1936, and vocalists from around New Zealand are in Dunedin this weekend for the 2011 ODT Aria. Nigel Benson previews the action.
Eighteen singers have entered the Otago Daily Times Aria, which is the traditional highlight of the annual Dunedin Performing Arts Competitions Society vocal festival being held over the next four days.
"I think it's going to be a very good aria competition. The standard of entries is very high," president Judy Bellingham said.
The competition heats start at 6pm in Burns Hall on Saturday.
From the heats, six singers will be selected for the final on Sunday at the Mayfair Theatre.
The first prize is the Celebration of the Century Cup, the $4000 ODT award and the $1000 Val Braumann award; the second prize is the $2000 Royal Dunedin Male Choir award and the Chambers Family Trophy; and the third prize is the $1000 Honor McKellar award.
The adjudicator is Sydney heldentenor Stuart Skelton, who is considered one of the finest tenors of his generation and continues to perform in the world's top opera houses.
The Dunedin Performing Arts Competitions Society 2011 senior vocal festival starts on Thursday at Burns Hall, and concludes with the ODT Aria final in the Mayfair Theatre on Sunday.
The ODT Aria is one of the oldest singing contests in New Zealand and has been held annually in Dunedin since 1987.
The newspaper has been supporting Otago singers since 1936, when it combined with the now defunct Evening Star to sponsor a grand choir contest with a first prize of 100.
Contestants
• The contestants in the 2011 Otago Daily Times Aria are:
Tamara Mayo (Dunedin)Elisabeth Harris (Christchurch)Kieran Rayner (Wellington)Imogen Thirlwall (Wellington)Jonathan Abernethy (Wellington)Anne Sophie Petit (Dunedin)Laurence Mossman (Dunedin)Maia Vegar (Dunedin)Chris Berentson (Wellington)Amina Edris (Christchurch)Jamie Young (Wellington)Bryony Williams (Wellington)Alex Wilson (Dunedin)Ingrid Fomison-Nurse (Dunedin)Kawiti Waetford (Dunedin)Timothy Burrell (Hamilton)Joel Amosa (Dunedin)Jamie Ling (Christchurch)
• Heats start at 6pm in Burns Hall on Saturday, with the final on Sunday at the Mayfair Theatre.
nigel.benson@odt.co.nz
