At just 19 years of age, Miss Berry was easily the youngest of the seven singers competing for top honours at last night's final in the Glenroy Auditorium in Dunedin.
It was also her first aria competition final and only her second major competitive event, after missing out on a spot in the final of last month's Wellington Aria Competition.
She remained composed and dignified while accepting her prizes on stage last night, but, once off it, was soon shedding tears of joy.
"They are all so much older than me and more experienced," she said.
"I just tried to perform the best that I could out there tonight."
Her performance of Handel's Piangero, la sorte mia followed by Britten's Embroidery Aria earned Miss Berry - a second-year student at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington - the Celebration of a Century Cup and $4000.
Second prize, the Chambers Family Trophy and $3000, went to fellow Wellington soprano Georgia Jamieson Emms.
Waitakere bass-baritone Wade Kernot won the Honor McKellar Award and $1000 for his third place, but only after renting a car and driving from Christchurch after his flight to Dunedin was cancelled.
Judge Richard Greager said he was impressed with the quality of last night's competitors, who managed without fail to convey the "text and drama" behind the pieces they were performing.
"It's not just pretty notes, high notes and a nice sound. It's all about conveying what the composer wanted, the text and the drama.
"I was not disappointed," he said.
