And it appears Lemalu is just as thrilled with the appointment to what is New Zealand’s oldest opera company.
"It’s a genuine honour to become patron of Opera Otago, a company in which I had my very first experience of opera in the chorus of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers in the 1990s.
"It was a thrilling experience to be on stage, in costume and makeup, singing famous opera choruses alongside wonderful soloists, and to hear the applause and appreciation of the Dunedin community for its opera company.
"In all honesty, I wasn’t a fan of opera at all at that age, and now it’s my job."
Opera Otago executive member Judy Bellingham said Lemalu’s appointment was the "perfect fit" because it provided him with his first experience in opera, and he had all his vocal training in Dunedin before heading overseas to become one of the world’s top opera singers.
The singer is now a professor of vocal studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and recently received an ONZM for services to opera from Princess Anne, during an investiture at Windsor Castle.
Miss Bellingham said the opera company would be holding a chorus concert on August 24 and 27, at Hanover Hall.
The concert aimed to get more community singers involved in local operas.
Nearly 30 people had already signed up for this weekend’s auditions for the show.
