Student Fundraising Concert at The Cabbage Tree Vineyard

Oliver Sewell as Captain Corrado in Verdi’s Il Corsaro – Photo provided by VUW.

 Sunday June 10, 2pm

So many people have asked if there is to be a fundraising concert for the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University this year. The answer is “YES”.

Dr Margaret Medlyn, Head of Classical Voice, has arranged a concert for Sunday, 10 June, 2pm

While it is widely known that the performing arts are starved of funding, it is less generally understood that the institutions that provide training for our talented students also struggle. The students love singing for “their supper” so to speak. Some of the voice lecturers also sing. It is a rare experience to hear teachers and students in the one concert.

The students are still mulling over their repertoire. However the programme always includes well known arias and ensembles from opera and musical theatre.

A feature of these concerts has been the willingness of graduates to return and sing alongside the students. In the past Georgia Jamieson Emms and James Rodgers have returned to help the fundraising effort. This year Honours graduate, tenor Oliver Sewell, will be joining the students.

Oliver Sewell is beginning to carve out a career in New York. He has sung roles in Ariadne auf Naxcos, and recently, in La Traviata with the Academy of Vocal Arts. On April 23, Oliver made his debut at Carnegie Hall singing the tenor solo in Mozart’s Mass in C Major. Dr Medlyn is thrilled that Oliver has agreed to sing saying “he is one to watch”.

During his Honours studies in 2013, Oliver sang the role of Captain Corrado in Verdi’s Il Corsaro performed by the students of Classical Voice. The funds raised at these concerts support student opera productions. The NZ School of Music Orchestra provides the accompaniment.

Further information from Winifred Bull – 06 306 8178