On 6 September 2020 the Tauranga Opera Forum scholarship students will perform for an independent judging panel in the hopes of receiving a singing scholarship.
The competing students are:
- Abby King | Otumoetai College
- Annabell Robinson | Tauranga Girls’ College
- Ansh Doht | Tauranga Girls’ College
- India Mahy | Aquinas College
- Hemorere Heke-Rironui | Tauranga Girls’ College
- Zoe Sherlock | Aquinas College
Tickets are $10. Buy your tickets at Bureta Pharmacy, 76 Bureta Rd / or House of Travel, Cnr Willow and Spring Streets.
You can also purchase your tickets online: deposit payment to 38-9019-0116100-02 with your name and phone number included.
Please contact johnhodgson@xtra.co.nz for more information.
Read the aspirations of the scholarship contestants below, and find out more about the concert in this SunLive article:
‘In the foreseeable future I would love to pursue a singing career. I would like to think that I would be able to sing professionally, and become a well known singer. When I finish secondary school I want to obtain a university degree in singing. I would love to perform in the operatic style around the world. Opera has such a unique and elegant sound that I want to be able to master. I believe in chasing after your dreams and aspirations. In this case singing is mine and I believe I can turn it into a career I love.’ Zoe Sherlock
‘I want to start doing more singing competitions and work on my vocals in a range of areas, such as my lower range and held notes. My first big goal would be to win a scholarship or competition and get my name out there. I want to improve the way I prepare for shows/ comps so I can remain calm and collected and not get over excited. I am also looking at auditioning for the upcoming show at TMT (Tauranga Musical Theatre) as I love being on stage and think this would be a great place to build my singing confidence and stage presence. I would love to grow to be a singer like Benee or Lorde and even write my own songs. My friend and I have written a song and would love to be able to record it and maybe even put it on Spotify. Music is one of my passions and I have always had a strong drive to do something musically and vocally.’ Indy Mahy
‘For the future, my aspiration is to improve my singing so I may utilise the knowledge and skills that I will continue to develop with the help of many teachers (whom I am very grateful for). With this, I wish to make people happy with my voice and take my ability to sing with me wherever I go, so I may pass the happiness I find in my music and the knowledge I have obtained onto others. I aspire to inspire other māori kids like me to go out of their comfort zone, break away from the status quo and take advantage of the amazing voices they are born with so they are enabled to grow, make use of their blessing and love singing like I do.’ Hemorere Heke-Ririnui
‘In the foreseeable future I would love to pursue a singing career. I would like to think that I would be able to sing professionally, and become a well known singer. When I finish secondary school I want to obtain a university degree in singing. I would love to perform in the operatic style around the world. Opera has such a unique and elegant sound that I want to be able to master. I believe in chasing after your dreams and aspirations. In this case singing is mine and I believe I can turn it into a career I love.’ Abby King
‘My aspirations for my future involving singing include maintaining the skill and knowledge of the art form throughout the rest of my life, that includes being able to learn something new about my voice every day whether it be theoretical or practical. Operatic singing is most definitely something I would like to pursue in my singing career. Ideally I would like to continue taking Trinity College singing exams annually, and eventually achieve the equivalent of a degree in singing. I also hope to encounter many opportunities via all of the singing ensembles I am a part of such as travelling abroad, entering large competitions, and making connections. I find it important to always be willing to expand your musical knowledge whether it be in a learning environment or taught through my own life experiences. That correlates into the fact that I believe you can never truly master anything, that there is always more to learn; I hope to have that sort of relationship with my voice, always learning something new each and every time I sing.’ Ansh Doht
‘I have always had a passion for singing, and was in various school choirs and performances throughout my primary school and intermediate years. Since starting high school, I have greatly broadened my horizons when it comes to singing. I have been doing singing lessons with Mrs Blake for the past 4 years. Since 2017, I have been a member of the Tauranga Girls’ College Chorale, which has won Very Highly Commended, Gold, and other awards at the regional Big Sing, and last year attended the Big Sing Cadenza in Rotorua. In 2018, I was a member of the ensemble in TGC’s production, Beauty and the Beast, which won a Zony award for best youth production. I took part in the Tauranga Competitions for singing in 2018 and 2019. In 2018 I picked up a 2nd place award and a 3rd place award. In 2019 I earned a 3rd place, two Very Highly Commended awards, and a Commended. Next year, and in the years to come, I hope to continue broadening my horizons and pushing myself in singing. I intend to continue with lessons in the years to come, and to learn as much as I can about the art form. I hope to join high calibre choirs and music groups, regardless of where I choose to attend university, and continue pursuing singing to the highest degree.’ Annabel Robinson
