Madison Nonoa is a New Zealand-born

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

opera singer of Samoan, Niuean, and Pākehā heritage.

Life

Nonoa was born in the Waikato, and attended the University of Auckland, where she graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music Honours (First Class).

Career

In 2016 Nonoa won third place in the 2016 Lexus Song Quest and was awarded the $15,000 Kiri Te Kanawa scholarship for most promising singer. She was selected as an Emerging Artist with New Zealand Opera and made her professional debut in the role of

Papagena ''The Magic Flute'' (German: , ), Köchel catalogue, K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a ''Singspiel'', a popular form during the time it was w ...

in the 2016 production of '' The Magic Flute''. The same year she created the role of Joyce in the world premiere of the Ross Harris chamber opera '' Brass Poppies'' at the

New Zealand Festival New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

. In 2017 Nonoa moved to England and studied opera at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under Yvonne Kenny. She performed Susanna in Mozart's '' Marriage of Figaro'' with

Bloomsbury Opera Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. Bloomsbury is home of the British Museum, the largest ...

. She was supported by the Jerwood Young Artists as a member of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera chorus. In 2020 she was appearing in concert at Glynebourne with

Emma Kerr Emma may refer to: * Emma (given name) Film * ''Emma'' (1932 film), a comedy-drama film by Clarence Brown * ''Emma'' (1996 theatrical film), a film starring Gwyneth Paltrow * ''Emma'' (1996 TV film), a British television film starring Kate Be ...

and two other chorus members. Recent engagements include Papagena ''Die Zauberflote'' at Glyndebourne, a participation at Snape Maltings with Simon Keenlyside and Malcolm Martineau as part of the Momentum Scheme, Despina Cosi fan tutte and Tytania ''A'' ''Midsummer Night’s Dream'' at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The 21-22 season includes the role of Maria ''Westside Story'' for Opera du Rhin as well as a performance of Couperin’s ''Trois Leçons de Ténèbres'' for the King’s Consort. She acknowledges the ongoing support of the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Malvina Major Foundations.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nonoa, Madison Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Operatic sopranos 21st-century New Zealand women opera singers New Zealand people of Samoan descent New Zealand people of Niuean descent University of Auckland alumni Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Pasifika opera singers