Anna Leese in residence

Award winning New Zealand soprano Anna Leese will be artist in residence at the New Zealand Singing School in January next year, the Minister for Arts, Chris Finlayson, announced on Saturday.
Mr Finlayson, describing the singing school as unique in Australasia, said inauguration of the role of an artist in residence was another major development in New Zealand’s contribution to culture and the arts.
In a speech detailing plans for the 25th national singing school, to be held again in Hawke’s Bay, Mr Finlayson acknowledged the contributions of top New Zealand artists and the Hawke’s Bay-based volunteers who pioneered the enterprise 30 years ago. Over the years they have created opportunities for young New Zealand singers to make a name for themselves internationally, he said.
He was speaking to a selected audience in the Hastings Opera House, where a former student at the school, Wellington tenor James Adams and Australasia’s top accompanist Professor Terence Dennis made a guest performance.
Napier-born Anna is currently performing the role of Tatyana in Eugene Onegin in Ghent, Belgium. After the premiere last week one European reviewer described her performance as a “revelation”.
A Canadian reviewer had earlier described her as “a flawless jewel, polished and ready to be placed in whatever crown the fates have prepared for her.”
Yet another of New Zealand’s young professional singers who has been a student at the school is Simon O’Neill, now making a career on the world’s Wagnerian stage.
Mr Finlayson said the return of Anna Leese to Hawke’s Bay in January had been made possible by Black Barn Vineyards, Havelock North, who have agreed to sponsor an artist in residence for the next two schools.
Judy Bellingham, senior lecturer in voice at Otago University, will return as artistic director. She will have responsibility for up to 80 students on the campus of the Eastern Institute of Technology at Taradale. There will be 30 faculty members, among them bass Conal Coad, conductor Dr Karen Grylls, accompanist Professor Terence Dennis and London-based vocal coach David Harper, who was in Hastings for Saturday’s announcement. There will be at least 21 pianos in action on each of the 10 days.
A new curriculum will include opportunities for two invited young pianists and two young singing teachers. They will work alongside experienced teachers and will participate in massed items at four public concerts.
For the 80 singers another facet of the school will be a strengthening of sessions on stagecraft, skills that are beyond the resources of many studio singing teachers. And there will be awards – some contributed by tutors and trustees who have dug into their own pockets so impressed have they been with the quality of the emerging talent.
Anna Leese will be able to prepare at the school for forthcoming performances. “She will have access to great repetiteurs and great language coaches. She will perform for the students and will mingle with them socially,” Judy Bellingham said.
She noted that, as artistic director, the curriculum will have her on the campus 12 hours a day.
Dame Kiri te Kanawa, patron of the New Zealand Singing School Trust along with Dame Malvina Major and Sir Donald McIntyre, wrote: “ I am pleased to note the decision to name Anna Leese as the inaugural artist in residence.
“Thirty years ago when the trust was formed to conduct a small summer school, few could have foreseen that this would develop into a platform for many of our finest young singers.”
Eileen von Dadelszen, chairman of the trust said: “As long as we have enthusiastic and generous supporters like Anna Leese and Black Barn, the school will continue to play an essential part in training singers from all over New Zealand and from overseas.”