How did you get into opera?
"Through Project Prima Volta (PPV). I have always loved music and I have always known that that was what I would end up doing one way or another but I had no idea it would look like this. If I’m being honest I wasn’t the biggest fan of opera and when the opportunity came up to be a part of PPV I was not interested at all. I actually had a crush on a boy in the programme so joined purely to hang out with him.
PPV put on fully staged operas with international casts and the PPV students were the chorus. I guess I kinda liked it because I did five operas with them. Meanwhile I went off and studied Commercial Music at Massey University in Wellington but I decided I kinda like opera and had some lessons with Anna Pierard, the co founder of PPV. The first thing I sang was a duet with that very boy I had a crush on and well the rest is history haha I’m now where I am today... striving to be an opera singing and dating that handsome fulla."
What has been challenging, unexpected or enjoyable during your singing career?
"Honestly it’s hard to say, I feel it’s only just begun and I’ve only just scratched the surface of what can be achieved. It’s all quite exciting really. I guess the most enjoyable parts are those break through moments in lessons where things that you have just been scratching your head over for months and months finally click, but then you have to be able to make it click all over again and again and again."
What are your goals for the future?
"I mean there is the obvious, study overseas do a young artist programme overseas, perform all over the world and well I mean it’s also to fulfil a dream of little Katarina who honestly dreamed of being on stages performing in the most outrageously glamorous costumes. More importantly, I want to come home and bring everything with me but even more take everything from home with me overseas. It saddens me how many Māori stories, traditions and even our language, has been lost and if I can even just play a small role in its revival then I will be happy. I know why I have a voice and I can feel it whenever I sing, it’s not just to make music but it’s to tell stories and to pay homage."
What do you hope to get out of LSQ?
"To learn. To learn is always at the forefront. Learn from the adjudicator, learn from the orchestra, learn from the organisers and also learn from my colleagues. As well as this I would love to get some support for the next steps. As this is only the beginning maybe some advice on my decisions as the currently stand in the next steps."
Who inspires your practice? Do you have any creative influences or heroes?
"Whānau!"
What does it mean to be a woman in opera? How has it shaped your experience?
"If I may, I would like to change this to what does it mean to be a wahine in opera. Makes me feel good. I feel strong when I say that. Which is interesting because I think a lot of our wahine in a lot of industries feel that sometimes that is a burden… nah uh! That’s our best feature. When I own my mana and can celebrate it…ooooh nothing can stop me! "
