Soprano Holly Evans is a Christchurch-born singer who recently completed her Master of Music with First Class Honours at the University of Auckland, studying under Morag Atchison. She previously graduated from the University of Canterbury with Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Commerce. In 2024, Holly made her orchestral debut with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in their Community Classics Concert series and later joined the chorus for their concert performance of Verdi’s La Traviata. Between 2022 and 2025, she appeared with the New Zealand Opera chorus in productions including Verdi’s Macbeth, Mozart’s Così fan tutte, and Rossini’s Le comte Ory.
Holly was the runner‑up in the 2025 Joan Kennaway Aria Competition and a finalist in the 2025 North Shore Performing Arts (Beacroft) Aria Competition. Operatic and music theatre roles include Galatea in the University of Canterbury’s Acis and Galatea and Maria in West Side Story with Rangi Ruru and Christ’s College. In 2025, she appeared as a soprano soloist with Toi Toi Opera in Vaughan Williams’ Riders to the Sea, performing Dame Gillian Whitehead’s waiata Naumai e te ao marama.
Holly has performed widely in masterclasses and concerts, notably as soprano soloist on Jonathan Lemalu’s 2021 national tour. She previously sang with the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Chorus. In 2026, she will commence postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with Mary Plazas.