Madison Nonoa is a New Zealand-born soprano opera singer of Samoan, Niuean, and Pākehā heritage.

Life

Nonoa was born in the

Waikato Waikato () is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipa District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton City, as well as Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, t ...

, and attended the

University of Auckland , mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work , established = 1883; years ago , endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021) , budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021) , chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant , vice_chancellor = Dawn ...

, 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 The Lexus Song Quest (formerly known as the Mobil Song Quest) is a biennial opera singing competition, held in New Zealand since 1956. The competition is managed and presented by Tāwhiri, which also runs the New Zealand Festival of the Arts. Win ...

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 New Zealand Opera is New Zealand's only full-time professional opera company, formed in 2000 from the merger of companies in Auckland and Wellington (and later Christchurch). New Zealand Opera is headquartered in Parnell, Auckland, stages severa ...

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 Magic Flute'' (German: , ), 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 written that inc ...

''. 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 The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a conservatoire and drama school located in the City of London, United Kingdom. Established in 1880, the school offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in all aspects of classical music and jaz ...

in London under

Yvonne Kenny Yvonne Kenny AM (born 25 November 1950) is an Australian soprano, particularly associated with Handel, Mozart and bel canto roles. Biography Born in Sydney, she first studied at the University of Sydney in science, hoping to become a bioche ...

. She performed Susanna in Mozart's ''

Marriage of Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' ( it, Le nozze di Figaro, links=no, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' ( opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It pre ...

'' 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