News & Events

The Kia Ora Foundation has provided soprano Amina Edris with invaluable support for her continued studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, as well as underwriting for her participation in the prestigious Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, California. While participating in the Merola Opera Program, Amina garnered rave reviews for her portrayal of Norina in Donizetti’s comic masterpiece, Don Pasquale.

September 22, 2015
The Kia Ora Foundation will sponsor two singers from New Zealand, soprano Amina Edris and bass-baritone James Ioelu, in the 2015 Merola Opera Program. Edris and Ioelu were chosen from more than 800 artists who applied for this world-renowned summer opera training program. They, along with twenty-one other singers, five apprentice coaches, and one apprentice stage director, representing seven countries, will participate in the 58th season of the Merola Opera Program from June 8 to August 22. Read full media release.

July 1, 2015
Ara Guzelimian recently visited Otago, New Zealand. Ara Guzelimian has held several senior American leadership posts in classical music but loves nothing more than helping young musicians, actors and dancers. Mr Guzelimian, who is Dean and Provost of the Juilliard School, a New York institution which is one of the world's leading music schools. Read the full article in the Otago Daily Times.

June 9, 2015
2015 Patricia Pratt Scholarships awarded to talented violinist and bassoonist. Violinist Olivia Francis will complete her Master of Performance at the Royal College of Music in London. Olivia has a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland and a Licentiate Diploma with Distinction from the Royal Schools of Music. Todd Gibson-Cornish will complete a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Bassoon Performance also at London’s Royal College of Music. Read full media release.

May 28, 2015
Ara Guzelimian, Dean and Provost of the Juilliard School, made a trip to New Zealand as a trustee of the Kia Ora Foundation to meet and share information with the five university music schools across the country. It was a hugely beneficial exercise for the schools, who all relished the opportunity to hear him speak and ask him questions about current music education trends across the globe, and specifically how Juilliard is leading the way in music tuition. Read the full trip report.

March 2, 2015
Bryony Gibson-Cornish, 2013 Patricia Pratt Scholarship winner received a Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Award to complete a Master of Music degree in viola theory, history and performance at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. In her first year of study, Bryony has already had a number of once in a lifetime experiences, which you can read about in this article.

October 10, 2013
Pene Pati, 2012 Patricia Pratt Scholarship winner and recipient of a 2013 Kia Ora Foundation Special Award, is one of ten singers selected as a 2014 Adler Fellows at San Francisco Opera. The Adler Fellowship Program is a coveted performance-oriented residency offering advanced young artists intensive individual training, coaching, professional seminars and a wide range of performance opportunities. The Adler Fellows are selected from the young artists who have participated in the Merola Opera Program.

October 3, 2013
Gemma New, 2009 and 2010 Patricia Pratt Scholarship winner, has been named one of the “Top Five Women Conductors on the Rise” by WQXR.

September 4, 2013