1. The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest is managed by Tāwhiri “the Organisers”. Any queries relating to the Conditions of Entry can be directed to info@songquest.nz
  2. Tāwhiri is the company responsible for managing the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest, Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts and the Wellington Jazz Festival.
  3. The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest is open to all New Zealand singers, resident in New Zealand or living overseas, aged between 18 and 32 on Saturday 11 July 2026, except:
    - Singers whose main income during the past two years was derived from full-time professional singing;
    - Winners of the first place in a previous Lexus or Mobil Song Quest;
    - Employees, Trustees or Directors of Tāwhiri or Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation.
  4. A New Zealand singer is a person who is a citizen or resident of New Zealand; or any holder of a valid permanent residency visa to New Zealand.
  5. Entries will be accepted only by completing the online application on or before 5pm NZST Monday 16 March 2026.
  6. If a candidate encounters technical problems during the online application, the candidate must inform the Organisers about the problem as soon as possible by sending an email to info@songquest.nz so that the application can nonetheless be formally accepted on time. In order to avoid, as far as possible, any technical problems, it is strongly recommended that candidates start uploading videos/their materials 48 hours before the deadline for applications.
  7. All contestants must consent to participate in all media activity required by the Organisers including but not limited to interviews, filming, photo shoots and social media participation. Any social media participation will be based on a content plan with guidelines to be advised by the Organisers.
  8. All recordings and any associated stills photography become the property of the Organisers and may be used without reference or payment of fees.
  9. All entrants are required to submit their audition online and in video format. All recordings remain the property of the applicant. Should the Organisers wish to use any audition material publicly permission will be sought directly from the entrant.
  10. Entrants must prepare and submit a programme of four items for consideration by the audition panel. Entrants must upload a digital copy of the music for the judges use. Candidates are expected to use original scores of the works they perform. Tāwhiri cannot be held responsible for any fraud committed by a candidate in this regard (public use of illegal copies).
  11. The video recording must be of a professional quality and must show the contestant performing the four items for judging purposes. The video performances must be unedited, clearly make visible the entrant’s chest and face at all times, recorded without excessive reverb or processing, have a good balance between the voice and piano and have been recorded during the last 18 months.
  12. Entrants will be notified of the selected twelve Semi-finalists by email. Semi-finalists are required to participate in a range of media opportunities including but not limited to interviews, filming, photo shoots and social media participation. Semi-finalist official photoshoot and filming will take place between 20 April - 4 May. Exact date, time and location will be confirmed closer to the time of the shoot.
  13. Once notified, semi-finalists are required to submit their repertoire for the Semi-Final and Grand Final (including encore) stages of the Competition to the Organisers for review by the music librarian; PDFs of the marked up scores are required. Works that go above the detailed orchestration and duration will not be accepted.
  14. Semi-finalists must submit a professional development proposal and budget outlining plans to advance their classical singing career to the Organisers by Monday 29 June 2026, 5pm NZST. The proposal will be the basis for discussion in an interview between the Semi-finalist and the Head Judge.
  15. The winner is required to submit an updated professional development proposal by Monday 24 August which factors in awarded scholarship money, cash prize and travel, and plans regarding how these will be used.
  16. The winner is required to submit a short report to the Organisers by Monday 13 July 2027. The report should detail how the prize money has supported the winner’s career in the 12 months following their win. The report should include a budget breakdown and a short commentary from the winner’s teacher.
  17. The Semi-finalists must be available to travel to Wellington on Wednesday 1 July 2026 for rehearsals and a meeting with the Head Judge, on Friday 3 July 2026. The Semi-Final concerts will be held in Wellington on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July 2026. The Organisers will provide the official accompanist and meet the costs of domestic travel and accommodation for the duration of the Semi-Final concert weekend for any Semi-finalists not residing in Wellington. The Organisers will not cover the cost of international airfares for any Semi-finalists living outside of New Zealand who must be available to participate in person in this part of the competition in Wellington.
  18. Semi-finalists will each perform two contrasting songs and one aria (with piano accompaniment) at the Semi-Final concerts in Wellington. Semi-Final programmes should demonstrate a range of languages. All items are to be sung in the original language and key (with the exception of accepted published transpositions)
    Semi-Finalists can choose to include any of the pieces from their audition for the Semi-Finals stage. The selected aria can also be one of the arias that is submitted for the Grand Final. Each aria should not exceed seven minutes in performance.
  19. The Head Judge will announce the six finalists who will compete in the Grand Final at the end of the Semi-Final concerts. Radio New Zealand may broadcast the Semi-Final concerts live (to be confirmed).
  20. Semi-finalists agree to participate in future Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation events during the year following the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest Grand Final subject to their availability. Any participation in future Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation events will be on a professional basis and will include payment of a fee as well as domestic travel and hospitality as required.
  21. Finalists will be required to attend rehearsals in Wellington prior to the Grand Final. Authorised domestic travel expenses and single hotel accommodation for any finalists not based in Wellington will be provided by the Organisers.
  22. At the Grand Final on Saturday 11 July 2026, the six finalists will sing one art song accompanied by piano and two arias accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. One of the selected arias can be the same aria that is submitted for the Semi-Finals stage and each aria must not exceed seven minutes in performance. The selected song can be the same song that is submitted for the Semi-Finals stage and must not exceed seven minutes in performance.
  23. Finalists must be prepared to sing to the accompaniment provided and be recorded for live radio, web and television broadcast.
    The instrumentation for each aria must NOT exceed the following: 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, 1 timpani, 3 percussion, 1 piano, 1 harp, violins, second violins, violas, celli, double basses.
  24. The winner of the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest will receive a cash prize of $50,000 net for professional development purposes. The runner-up will receive a cash prize of $20,000 net. The third prize winner will receive a cash prize of $15,000 net. The other three finalists will each receive a cash prize of $3,500 net.
  25. Tāwhiri and its partners may record audio and video of the Semi-Finals, Grand Final Gala, parts of rehearsals, and interviews with entrants. Tāwhiri will own all rights to these recordings and may use them in any form of advertising or promotion for the event, at any time before, during, or after it takes place. Entrants will not receive additional payment for any recording, live broadcast, or rebroadcast of their performance. Entrants may request copies of the recordings for their own non-commercial use, subject to Tāwhiri’s approval. Contestants under contract to a recording company must obtain formal approval in writing to enable Tāwhiri use any recordings made. Evidence of any recording contract release must be included with the entry form.
  26. It is an express and paramount condition of entry that all entrants shall accept these conditions and the rulings of the various judges as final and binding, whether in relation to matters covered by these conditions or otherwise. Under no circumstances will correspondence be entered into with entrants, teachers or sponsors, or interviews granted regarding such decisions or rules.
  27. Tāwhiri is not responsible for any accident, injury, loss, or damage to you or your property in connection with the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest, regardless of whether it is caused by negligence or otherwise. Entering the competition does not make you an employee or agent of Tāwhiri. By entering, you agree to release Tāwhiri from all legal claims or liability for such accident, injury, loss, or damage.

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