Dame Malvina Major Foundation Christchurch Aria 2016. L to R: Eliza Boom, Elisabeth Harris, Angus Simmons.
Mezzo soprano wins Dame Malvina Major Foundation Christchurch Aria
Mezzo soprano Elisabeth Harris has won the prestigious Dame Malvina Major Foundation Christchurch Aria.
The Christchurch-raised singer took out the $5,000 first prize with second place awarded to soprano Eliza Boom and third
to baritone Angus Simmons.
A Master’s graduate from the New Zealand School of Music and experienced chorus member with New Zealand Opera, Elisabeth
has recently been offered a scholarship and place at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.
The Dame Malvina Major Foundation Christchurch Aria is organised by the Christchurch Competitions Society and is the
first of the 2016 regional Dame Malvina Major Foundation Aria Competitions which feed into the New Zealand Aria
competition in October.
Sydney-based adjudicator Luise Napier, who will also judge New Zealand Aria, was impressed with the standard of the
competitors. In summing up the eight finalists’ performances she said she had found it almost impossible to separate
them, as they had all performed to such a high standard and were all technically able. Consequently, she had indulged
her own personal choice.
Chair of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Christchurch Committee Anna Midgley said she was personally delighted to see
Elisabeth Harris win, as was the audience.
“Elisabeth grew up in Christchurch and was a member of Canterbury Opera Youth. This was her night.”