Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono is a 26 year old Samoan baritone from Flaxmere, Hastings, and has recently acquired his Masters in Advanced Opera Studies through The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (TANZOS) at the University of Waikato, under the tutelage of Kristin Darragh and David Harper.
Fonoti-Fuimaono’s interest in classical music flourished through his involvement with the youth initiative, ‘Project Prima Volta’ – a music programme based in Hawke’s Bay that empowers youth through classical music. Fonoti-Fuimaono has been involved in several concerts and productions as a solo and ensemble singer with Auckland Opera Studio, Chamber Music New Zealand, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra, Napier Civic Choir, Festival Opera, New Zealand Opera, and The University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music. He has also been selected to attend the prestigious New Zealand Opera School for a fifth consecutive year, commencing in 2024.
A few competition successes include being a finalist in the Joan Sutherland Richard Bonyage Bel Canto (2023), Auckland Opera Studio Scholarship Award (2023) competitions, Lockwood NZ Aria (2023), Nicholas Tarling Aria competition (2023), and winning first place in the Waikato Aria Competition and the Southern Aria competition in Dunedin (2022).