New Zealand Opera is delighted to announce the appointment of Michaela Cadwgan as the 2026 NZ Opera Freemasons Foundation Company Artist.

Michaela has been part of the wider NZ Opera whānau for some time now, having made her professional NZ Opera debut in Mansfield Park in 2024, with then realising the lead role of Fanny Price for the subsequent 2025 production. She has since continued her relationship with the company in 2026, appearing in our popular Opera in the Park outdoor concert series, and as the titular character Red in our just-concluded Opera in Schools season, taking Lucy Mulgan’s children’s opera RED! to over 45 kura across the motu.

As Company Artist, Michaela will receive valuable professional development opportunities, including mentorship and coaching in NZ and abroad, rehearsal experience, and continued artistic growth within a professional opera environment. This appointment acknowledges both her achievements to date, and her potential as an emerging New Zealand artist.

We are thrilled to be able to share this news, and excited to welcome Michaela into this exciting position.

“I am incredibly humbled and grateful to be appointed as the Freemasons Foundation Company Artist. It is an honour to have such wonderful support from New Zealand Opera and I look forward to what this means for my growth and development as an artist.” – Michaela

We are grateful to the Freemasons Foundation for supporting Michaela through this next chapter.