Opera fans are in for a musical treat this Saturday, as talented young singers and an international baritone perform a concert hosted by Tauranga Opera Forum Trust.

‘An Afternoon of Operatic Favourites’ begins 2.30pm April 6, at the Wesley Centre with an impressive line-up of singers, says Tauranga Opera Forum Trust chair John Hodgson.

“We have our three secondary student scholarship recipients performing, three tertiary students from the University of Waikato’s Conservatorium of Music, plus an international baritone.”

John says the trust established annual scholarships for local students “to promote opera in Tauranga” “We like to give the students and our members the opportunity to enjoy opera together by hosting a concert of student performances.”

This year’s scholarship students are Year 13s Ansh Dhot and Ashana Watene, and Year 12 Yanni Gorsame. All three ladies have “beautiful voices and are wonderful singers in the opera genre”.

International baritone Zhou Nan. Photo: supplied.

Invited Waikato university students–currently studying for their Masters degrees – are Emma Ruske, Emily Scott, and Grace McCarthy-Sinclair

“We feel very pleased to have these singers to perform as they not only offer more mature singing but they talk to our high school student scholars to give them a pathway for music education.

“This gives secondary students some idea of what it’s like going to university to study music and, of course, our members – the audience – get the benefit of all this singing!”

John has also managed to get international baritone Zhou Nan – who has a five-year work visa to sing in New Zealand – to perform. “We’re excited Nan is keen to work with Tauranga Opera Forum – and it’s a bonus to have someone of his calibre performing at this event.”

‘An Afternoon of Operatic Favourites’ is 2.30pm April 6, at the Wesley Centre in 13th Ave, Tauranga.