As a company dedicated to the preservation and advancement of our artform in this part of the world, New Zealand Opera is dedicated to finding opportunities for local singers, musicians and artistic practitioners to build their skillsets and professional portfolios in a supportive and mutually beneficial environment.
Over the more than two decades since the formal establishment of New Zealand Opera, our fellowships and artist programmes have laid the groundwork for many of New Zealand’s greatest modern opera careers. The phrase “poipoiā te pitomata” – nurturing the potential – has its origins in traditional Māori horticulture. New shoots (tupu) emerge from the pito — the end of the kūmara — reaching for the sun and warmth; that living energy, the pitomata, is what we must nurture.
Because just as the cycles of seasonal planting and harvest lay the groundwork for future growth, so too do our artist support programmes focus not only on nurturing the immediate generation of rising stars, but on cultivating a healthy, self-sustaining opera ecosystem in Aotearoa – for today, for tomorrow, and for generations to come.
On this page we acknowledge the artists currently supported by New Zealand Opera and our generous benefactor partners, as well as the alumni of these programmes.
Michaela Cadwgan
The 2026 New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Company Artist
Michaela Cadwgan is an award-winning soprano from Aotearoa, New Zealand, based in Australasia. She is a First-Class Honours graduate of Te Kōkī The New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in German and Italian. Michaela is also an alumna of the New Zealand Opera School and a two-time recipient of the Victorian Opera Opera Prize (2024 & 2025).
Her repertoire spans both traditional and contemporary works. Michaela has performed with leading companies across Australasia, including Victorian Opera, New Zealand Opera, and Wellington Opera, and has collaborated with major ensembles such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, and Orchestra Wellington. Her roles have included Fanny Price in both NZ Opera’s and Victorian Opera’s Mansfield Park, Glaša in Káťa Kabanová, Bianca in La Rondine, Mrs Hargreaves in Boojum! and the titular role in The Lyrebird’s Voice.
Michaela was a finalist in the 2023 IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition, where she received the Saluzzo Opera Academy Scholarship, the MOST Audience Prize, and the Merenda Travel Prize. She has also been recognised in the 2025 Herald Sun Aria competition and the Lockwood New Zealand Aria, where she was Runner-Up in 2022 and a Finalist in 2019.
Claire Cowan
The 2026 New Zealand Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Claire Cowan is recognized for her diverse work across concert, film, television, theatre and ballet. Her career is adorned with numerous accolades, including eight prime-time TV soundtracks and multiple national awards for “Best Original Score.” She has also been honoured with several Composer Residencies and has the distinction of being the first female composer in New Zealand to score a full-length ballet. In 2024, she was made a Te Tumu Toi Arts Foundation Laureate of NZ.
Among her notable projects are the ballet Cinderella for the RNZB and music for the TV series Under the Vines and Bust Up. Claire’s first full-length ballet, Hansel and Gretel,has become popular in Canada and USA with ballet companies performing the work. Her international collaborations include Inklings for Ballet Unleashed in Canada and Macaroni for BalletX in the USA. Her latest feature film score, Jean Cocteau premiered at the prestigious Telluride Festival in Colorado.
Whether scoring for film or composing for the stage, Claire approaches each project with a deep passion for connecting with audiences. Furthermore, Claire is dedicated to advocating for underrepresented narratives, particularly those led by queer and female voices, in the realms of classical music, ballet and film.
Anna Gilmour
The 2025/26 Pettman DARE Fellow
Anna Gilmour, originally from Hawke’s Bay, is the 2025/26 Pettman DARE Fellow. With a background in theatre and a Trinity College London ATCL Diploma in Speech & Drama, she recently completed a BA in Education and Cultural Anthropology at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Anna was a member of Long Cloud Youth Theatre before working at arts festivals across Aotearoa, Australia and the UK. As part of the Fellowship, she joins Opera North’s Learning & Engagement team and, later in 2026, New Zealand Opera’s Participation team. Alongside the Fellowship, she is studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Performing Arts Education at the University of Leeds.
New Zealand Opera artist programme alumni
Ipu Laga’aia
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Company Artist
Brent Stewart
New Zealand Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist
Zane Berghuis
Pettman DARE Fellow (2024/25)
Taylor Wallbank & Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Company Artists
Matthew Kereama
New Zealand Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist
Steven Moseley
Pettman DARE Fellow (2023/24)
Ridge Ponini, Shiddharth Chand, Tayla Alexander & Rhiannon Cooper
New Zealand Opera Artist Development Programme
Andrew Gordon
Pettman DARE Fellow (2022/23)
Ben Kubiak
New Zealand Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist (2022/23)
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, Hannah Ashford-Beck & Katherine Winitana
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Studio Artists
Katherine Winitana, Samuel Downes, Katie Trigg & Ben Kubiak
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Studio Artists
Imogen Thirlwall & Natasha Te Rupe Wilson
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Guest Artists
Eleanor Bishop
New Zealand Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist
Anna Mahon, Harry Grigg & Felicity Tomkins
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Studio Artists
Arthur Adams-Close, Barbara Paterson, Claire Scholes, Emma Roxburgh, Emma Sloman, Jess Segal, Kate Lineham, Lachlan Craig, Declan Cudd, Lilia Carpinelli, Sarah-Jane Rennie & Will King
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Artists
Jacqueline Coats
Pettman DARE Fellow (2019/20)
Emma Roxburgh, Emma Sloman, Kate Lineham, Lachlan Craig, Declan Cudd, Lilia Carpinelli, Sarah-Jane Rennie, Andrew Grenon, Barbara Graham, Chelsea Dolman, Wendy Doyle, Manase Latu, Elizabeth Mandeno & Daniel O’Connor
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Artists
Joel Amosa
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Will King, Angus Simmons & Pasquale Orchard
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Emerging Artists
Blaire White
Pettman DARE Fellow (2018/19)
Deborah Rogers, Emma Sloman, Kate Lineham, Lachlan Craig, Declan Cudd, Lilia Carpinelli, Sarah-Jane Rennie,, Andrew Grenon, Barbara Graham, Chelsea Dolman, Wendy Doyle & Elizabeth Mandeno
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Artists
Thomas Atkins
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Samson Setu, Manase Latu, Thomas Atkins & Natasha Wilson
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Emerging Artists
Callum Blackmore
Pettman DARE Fellow (2017-18)
Eliza Boom, Olivia Sheat & Jamie Henare
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Emerging Artists
James Harrison
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Atama Thompson
Pettman DARE Fellow (2016/17)
Amanda Atlas, Derek Hill, Morag McDowell, Robert Tucker, Emma Roxburgh, Emma Sloman, Kate Lineham, Sarah-Jane Rennie, Barbara Graham & Wendy Doyle
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Artists
Emma Fraser
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Katherine McIndoe & Madison Nonoa (2015/16)
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Emerging Artists
Marcus Norman
Pettman DARE Fellow
Emma Roxburgh, Emma Sloman, Kate Lineham, Sarah-Jane Rennie, Andrew Grenon, Barbara Graham, Wendy Doyle, Amanda Atlas, Derek Hill, Morag McDowell, Robert Tucker & Milla Dickens
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Artists
Amelia Berry
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Jarvis Dams, Filipe Manu, Chelsea Dolman, Christian Thurston & Emily Scott (2014/15)
Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Gemma Lee
Pettman DARE Fellow
Emma Roxburgh, Emma Sloman, Kate Lineham, Sarah-Jane Rennie, Andrew Grenon, Wendy Doyle, Amanda Atlas, Derek Hill, Morag McDowell, Robert Tucker, Milla Dickens & Andrea Munro
New Zealand Opera Freemasons Foundation Artists
Rachelle Pike
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Thomas Atkins, Cheuky Chan, Elizabeth Mandeno & Oliver Sewell (2013/14)
Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Rosel Labone
Pettman DARE Fellow
Amanda Atlas, Maaike Christie-Beekman, Wendy Doyle, Derek Hill, Kate Lineham, Morag McDowell, Andrea Munro, Sarah-Jane Rennie, Emma Roxburgh, Emma Sloman & Robert Tucker
New Zealand Opera Resident Artists
Anna Leese
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Bianca Andrew, Edward Laurenson & Kieran Rayner (2012/13)
Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Chris Clark
Pettman DARE Fellow
Maaike Christie-Beekman, Wendy Doyle, Derek Hill, Matthew Landreth, Kate Lineham, Morag McDowell, Emma Roxburgh & Emma Sloman
NZBR New Zealand Opera Resident Artists
Phillip Rhodes
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Stephen Diaz, Emma Fraser & Moses Mackay (2011/12)
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Hugo Zanker
Pettman DARE Fellow
Wendy Doyle, Derek Hill, Matthew Landreth, Kate Lineham, Morag McDowell, Emma Roxburgh & Emma Sloman
NZBR New Zealand Opera Resident Artists
Phillip Rhodes
Dame Malvina Major Foundation Young Artist/Fellow
Cameron Barclay, Amelia Berry, Rachel Day & Xingxing Wang (2010/11)
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Hedda Oosterhoff
Pettman DARE Fellow
Wendy Doyle, Derek Hill, Matthew Landreth, Kate Lineham, Morag McDowell, Emma Roxburgh, Emma Sloman & Helen Lear
NZBR New Zealand Opera Resident Artists
Andrew Grenon, Brigitte Heuser, Alexandra Ioan & Polly Ott (2009/10)
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
David Kelly
PwC Dame Malvina Major Young Artist/Fellow
Wendy Doyle, Derek Hill, Kate Lineham, Morag McDowell, Emma Roxburgh & Emma Sloman
NZBR New Zealand Opera Resident Artists
Anna Argyle, Claire Barton & Daniel O’Connor (2008/9)
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Kristin Darragh
PwC Dame Malvina Major Young Artist/Fellow
Wendy Doyle, Derek Hill, Matthew Landreth, Kate Lineham, Morag McDowell, Emma Roxburgh & Susie Ewart
NZBR New Zealand Opera Resident Artists
Hadleigh Adams, Barbara Graham, Michael Gray, Julia Hill (Booth), Matthew Landreth & Barbara Paterson (2007/8)
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Wade Kernot
PwC Dame Malvina Major Young Artist/Fellow
Sarah-Ann Walker & Rachelle Pike (2006/7)
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Catherine Norton & David Kelly
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Paloma Bruce, Rebecca Crabtree, Malcolm Ed & Sarah Wood
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Kristen Darragh, Andrew Glover, Phillip Rhodes & Wade Kernot
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Stephanie Bain, Seamus Casey, Sarah McOnie (Court), Carla Parry & Elaine Wogan
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Seamus Casey, Andrew Conley, Sarah-Jane Rennie & Sarah Sloman
PwC Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Andrew Conley, Joanna Heslop, Helen Lear, Todd Mohi & April Marie Neho
Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
Joanna Heslop, Penny Davis, James Harrison, James Meng, Brendon Mercer & Wendy Dawn Thompson
Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists
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