The first five years

The Foundation’s first five years have been enormously successful, with excellent corporate support from ASBbank, UBS, Rolex, a number of individuals and Trusts, several fundraising concerts (Auckland, Wellington, Jersey, the UK and Sydney) and a number of Foundation grants announced (see ‘Grant Recipients’ page). 

One of the Foundation’s most innovative projects involved sending well-known NZ professional opera singer and teacher Jenny Wollerman to undertake a 3-month research trip to the UK to observe and absorb conditions and to then share this knowledge with music teachers and aspiring New Zealand students considering furthering their music education in the UK through a series of ongoing seminars and personal contacts. 

The Solti Accademia di Bel Canto was formed by Lady Valerie Solti to further the careers of young singers by providing a teaching platform as well as a bridge between life as a student and the life of a musician with a responsibility to the public. The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation recently entered into a partnership with the Accademia and agreed to partially fund New Zealand students to attend the annual Summer Academy in Tuscany. 

The Foundation is currently helping to fund two NZ singers (lyric soprano Claire Egan and Hawkes Bay baritone Phillip Rhodes who are currently in their final year of studies at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice which was established by renowned tenor Dennis O’Neill.

Although the Foundation’s original focus was on raising money to create the Trust Fund it also recognized the need to help students in the most basic ways. Dame Kiri recognized the need to mentor singers who needed her help with vocal technique, knowledge of vocal management, good health habits and the ability to know when to say ‘No’. In the last 5 years Dame Kiri and the Foundation have helped many young singers in this way.