Objectives & key principles

The Foundation’s initial mission was to establish, build and manage a Trust Fund of at least $3 million to generate income to provide financial support to help young New Zealand singers and musicians achieve their musical potential.

This Fund was initiated through the proceeds of a number of Gala Concerts and supplemented by significant commercial sponsorship, contributions from Dame Kiri and bequests and donations from supporters of the Foundation. It is the Foundation’s intention to create ongoing exciting events to increase this revenue.

The key principles of the Foundation are to offer mentoring, financial support and career assistance to the most talented, totally dedicated young New Zealand singers and musicians and help them to succeed internationally. 

The Foundation will identify singers and musicians not just with talent, though that will be a basic requirement, but those who have outstanding focus, drive and initiative and who are completely committed to achieving their agreed goals.

Two broad types of support are offered:

1. Mentoring – help with vocal technique, knowledge of vocal management, good health habits, stage craft and clothing.
2. Funding – for specific and agreed use, as negotiated with each recipient.

The Foundation seeks to add new value, not duplicate or replace the existing excellent work being done for singers and musicians by a range of individuals and institutions, particularly the Dame Malvina Major Foundation, with whom we share a complementary relationship.