Samuel Downes (tenor)
A 29-year-old Auckland-born singer now based in London, he is a Harewood Artist with English National Opera supported by the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation. A graduate of the University of Auckland with First Class Honours, he has developed through the New Zealand Opera Chorus, NZ Opera School, and international conservatory training. He performs leading operatic roles across Europe and continues to build an emerging international career in opera and concert repertoire.
Jack Doyle (countertenor)
From Auckland, the 22-year-old will commence a Master of Performance in Vocal Studies at the Royal College of Music in London this year. A University of Auckland graduate, Jack studied with Morag Atchison and Te Oti Rakena. Formerly a baritone, he performs with NZ Opera Chorus and NZ Youth Choir, has toured internationally, and won major competitions including the Nicholas Tarling Aria.
Holly Evans (soprano)
From Ōtautahi Christchurch, 26-year-old Holly holds a Master of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland, following degrees in Music and Commerce from Canterbury. She has performed with Auckland Philharmonia and New Zealand Opera, appeared in opera and musical theatre roles, earned competition accolades, featured as a soprano soloist, and will begin postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester this year.
Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono (baritone)
A 29-year-old Samoan‑New Zealand baritone from Flaxmere, Hastings, Alfred comes from a musical family and undertook his training at the University of Waikato and Te Pae Kōkako – The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (TANZOS). A New Zealand Opera Company Artist and Creative New Zealand award recipient, he has performed widely in opera and concert, sung leading roles, won major competitions, and is dedicated to community outreach while aspiring to an international career. Alfred was selected as a Semi-Finalist in the 2024 Lexus Song Quest.
Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono (baritone)
A 26-year-old Samoan–New Zealand baritone from Flaxmere, Hastings, he is currently completing Advanced Opera Studies at Waikato through TANZOS under Nikki-Li Hartliep. He began singing in church and has performed widely with New Zealand Opera and Festival Opera, in leading and chorus roles, and in quartet ‘Alofa’. A competition finalist and scholarship recipient, he will continue studies at the Royal College of Music, London.
Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono (tenor)
A 25-year-old Samoan-New Zealand singer from Flaxmere, Hastings, he began singing in church before studying at the University of Waikato, graduating with First Class Honours and a Master’s in Advanced Performance and Opera Studies. A TANZOS artist and NZ Opera School alumnus, he has performed major operatic roles and concert solos, won leading competition prizes, and now seeks international artist development opportunities.
Catherine Hooper (soprano)
A graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, 31-year-old Catherine previously studied Classics, English, and Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at St Andrews and Cambridge. She has since joined leading UK and European young artist programmes, including Opera Prelude and the Wexford Factory. A versatile soprano, she performs major operatic roles, recitals, and oratorio, and is a competition prize-winner.
Samuel Mataele (countertenor)
An 18-year-old countertenor from Auckland, hailed as one of New Zealand’s most promising young singers, won the 2025 Nicholas Tarling Junior Aria and Most Outstanding Talent award. He has earned multiple competition prizes, performed major Handel and Bach roles with leading ensembles, and studies Music and Psychology at the University of Auckland.
Samuel McKeever (bass-baritone)
Originally from Hastings, 29-year old Samuel has a Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance), graduating with First Class Honours in 2021 from Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington. He went on to study as a 2024/2025 artist at TANZOS training under Nikki Li Hartliep. In 2024 Samuel was selected as a semi-finalist for the Lexus Song Quest. His most recent stage history includes the title role in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi (Festival Opera 2025) and Count Ribbing in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera (Wellington Opera 2025).
Sarah Mileham (soprano)
A 23-year-old soprano from Tauranga, now based in Hamilton, Sarah completed Classical Performance studies at Victoria University of Wellington and Waikato University, graduating with First Class Honours. Training with Nikki Li Hartliep, she has debuted with New Zealand Opera in major roles and toured nationally. A multiple competition winner and NZ Opera School alumna, she continues to build an international career.
Cecily Shaw (mezzo-soprano)
From Stratford, Taranaki, 32-year-old Cecily studied voice at the University of Waikato before completing a master’s at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she now continues the Opera Course with a scholarship. She performs opera, oratorio, and recitals across the UK and New Zealand, with roles in Mozart, Handel, and contemporary works. A prize winner and Guildhall alumna, she is also active in creative performance projects and advocacy for neurodivergent artists.
Ridge Ponini (tenor)
Originally from Rarotonga, Cook Islands, and the first born-and-raised Cook Islander to pursue a professional opera career, 30-year-old Ridge holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) from Otago and a Master’s in Advanced Opera Studies from Waikato, and trained with TANZOS. A prize-winning performer and New Zealand Opera alumnus, he has toured nationally in principal and chorus roles, performed widely in oratorio and opera, and is now preparing for further international training and engagements.
Ridge was a semi-finalist in the 2022 Lexus Song Quest.