Dame Kiri comments...

July 2012
I can’t believe that it's 8 years since we launched the Foundation – it’s been 8 years of hard but very gratifying work and I want to thank my Trustees in New Zealand and the UK for their untiring efforts to achieve our goals. I firmly believe that we are making a difference. 

I am well aware of how fortunate I am to have been given so many wonderful opportunities over the course of a long career. I will be eternally grateful for the sacrifices made by my parents – without their total commitment and support I would not be here. My main focus now is working with the Foundation to bring through the next generation of classical singers. Some say it’s giving back – I see the main thrust of my work as being able to show people how to give and that giving is rewarding. 

To succeed young New Zealand singers need to sacrifice more and work even harder than their international peers, those students who are already in the system attending music colleges in the UK and elsewhere. We are helping many fine young singers including Phillip Rhodes, Kawiti Waetford and more recently Jonathan Abernethy and Pene Pati who is now attending the Cardiff International Academy of Voice. We have a new DVD which you can view by clicking the arrow on the left of your screen. In other areas we are involved with and supporting the Lexus Song Quest and master classes, the NZ Singing School, Opera Factory, the NZ Opera School and a host of other things many of which you will read about in this newsletter. So the work being done by my Foundation and by others such as my good friend Malvina Major’s Foundation, whom I congratulate on celebrating its 21st birthday, is extremely important.

Finally, may I once again acknowledge the talent and dedication of our students. It is such a pleasure to be involved with these young people who are committed to achieving their dreams and will work hard to make them come true. It is also why my work and the support the Foundation can give in nurturing this young talent is such an honour and a privilege. May it long continue. 

Thank you for your continued support of the Foundation and help for all those young singers to realize their dreams. 

Sincerely