Performers honoured to receive arts award

Opera singers are often cautioned about the damage squealing or yelling might do to their voice.

But Dunedin sopranos Olivia Pike and Erica Paterson, and pianist and composer Abhinath Berry, threw caution to the wind at the weekend when they won a share of $10,000 in the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Arts Excellence Awards.

The awards support young New Zealanders of outstanding ability in the classical performing arts, who are preparing for a professional career.

Dame Malvina said the awards, administered by local volunteer committees across the country, recognised the talent and potential of young New Zealand performing artists at grassroots level.

"The calibre of applicants has yet again impressed and inspired us.

"We are thrilled to be able to give these young people a foot up to take their talent even further."

Pike said she would put the funding towards a graduate performance diploma in voice performance at the Boston Conservatory, at Berklee.

Due to the Covid pandemic, her initial plans to pursue study overseas were put on hold, and she instead returned to study at the University of Otago.

In 2022, she graduated with a master of music in classical voice performance (with distinction).

She said it was "so special" to have local support when heading overseas and it was "humbling" to have the work she had put in, recognised and encouraged in this way.

"I’m excited for where this next step in my journey as a singer will take me."

Paterson was also delighted with the award.

She has completed a bachelor of music (first-class honours) from the University of Otago and is also heading overseas for postgraduate studies.

She recently accepted an offer to study a master of music in vocal studies at the Royal College of Music, in London.

"As a young New Zealand singer, it’s an honour to have the support of a foundation like the Dame Malvina Major Foundation behind me as I head away overseas."

Berry graduated from the University of Otago with a bachelor of music (honours) in performance and composition last year.

He too was grateful for the award and said he was now exploring options for post-graduate study abroad.

He planned to use the prizemoney for an audition tour of the United States, which included music schools at Shepherd, Jacobs, Yale, and Cleveland.

"Receiving this award will greatly assist me in funding my audition tour.

"Being recognised for my achievements to date inspires me to keep working hard towards my artistic goals."

john.lewis@odt.co.nz