New Zealand Opera is delighted to announce Brent Stewart as the 2025 Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist. This prestigious appointment recognises Stewart’s exceptional talent and aims to foster the development of operatic conducting in New Zealand.
Brent is a highly versatile New Zealand musician, whose extensive work spans orchestral, choral, operatic, and contemporary music. Known for his wide-ranging musical fluency, he consistently brings creativity and precision to every project, from symphonic premieres and choral direction to music education and production.
His impressive conducting engagements include leading the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra, and Manukau Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Brent is immersed in music rehearsals for NZ Opera’s upcoming community opera, The Monster in the Maze, where he is conducting the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia in the Wellington and Auckland seasons respectively.
Beyond his work as a conductor, Brent is also a highly accomplished percussionist, pianist, producer and arranger, notably having arranged music for the New Zealand feature film Tinā. His profound knowledge of vocal technique, choral sound, and orchestral practice provides him with an exceptional foundation for operatic work, shaped by a breadth of professional experience and a deep commitment to his craft.
Brent Stewart shares his enthusiasm for the appointment: “In New Zealand, professional opportunities to conduct opera are limited, so a deeper connection with New Zealand Opera is a highly valuable step for me towards building greater hands-on experience in the field. By working with NZ Opera, with the support of the Friedlander Foundation, it is my hope to contribute meaningfully to the work of NZ Opera while also gaining the exposure needed to springboard into further operatic opportunities, both nationally and internationally.”
Joanne Cole, Director of Artistic Planning & Participation for NZ Opera, highlights the significance of the program: “Since 2021, the Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist concept has proven that with the right investment, we can take steps to address the skills shortage in opera in New Zealand. This is achieved by providing a bespoke program tailored to each individual recipient that enhances and develops their skills. This, in turn, generates the confidence and employability of artists here in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad and lays the foundations for a network of mentorship and support between artists in this arena.”
New Zealand Opera is deeply appreciative to the Friedlander Foundation for their continued support in championing highly-skilled artists within opera and congratulate Brent Stewart on his appointment.
