The New Zealand Opera School which thrills opera lovers throughout the country will now showcase the School in all its glory worldwide online from Monday March 14th when the new website is launched.
The comprehensive, intricately detailed site includes information about the now 28 year old School held annually in January at Whanganui Collegiate School, from the glittering successes of former students on the world stages to every detail about the School, its tutors, accompanists and students.
Carefully designed and informative site has been built by former student Jack Bourke who said his time at the School from 1999 to 2004 had been utterly invaluable. He said ‘The School’s founder and Chairman, Donald Trott, was an inspiration…a man who had encouraged him to live his best life and to sing. ‘I still sing but my life took off overseas in the corporate digital tech world in global telecommunications, which was incredible.
When Jack returned to New Zealand last year and quarantined, he caught up with his family in Auckland and then contacted Donald. He was appointed a Trustee of the School and he set about to work with building the new website. It makes me very happy to do this for the wonderful School; it’s my gift, payback for those important years in my life.
The signature of the School NZOS is displayed as the site opens together with the emblem featuring a spectacular design of the kokako, a native bird that has a beautiful clear, organ-like song. Also featuring is a large picture of world acclaimed tenor Pene Pati, with his success story.
This beautifully designed site takes the viewer back to the start of the School detailing the accomplishments of former alumni, world class tutors and accompanists.
The School has been touted by former students as an Opera Bootcamp, where they work hard, living and breathing music for two weeks on campus at Collegiate school every year.
All the stories from the events held through the years where every student featured in public performances from master classes to recitals, the glorious chapel service and finally culminating in the final concert Great Opera Moments, held every year in the Royal Whanganui Opera House.
A great thrill included on the site are live streams of the final concert and the chapel service. ‘They were watched by thousands worldwide. We had viewers from Scotland and all over the world and even from Portugal…it was exciting to see how many viewers we attracted’.
The success of the School is celebrated by the new website with interviews and video clips from students, tutors and accompanists along with news stories and reviews.
One can also view photographs from the last 28 years to ensure that browsing this site will be an enlightening and satisfying experience for viewers here and throughout the world.
Lin Ferguson
Whanganui Midweek, March 9th 2022
