Entries now closed and the judging begins

We are thrilled to have recently completed taking entries for our third annual Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition! Entrants included regular performer in community choirs, people preparing for an international music career and everyone in between who loves to sing.  

Please visit  the NTAC website to read in detail about this burgeoning competition to celebrate the human voice. Our panel of judges – professional vocal coaches and artists – now have the unenviable task of choosing from a large pool of talent in readiness for the February stage competition where places will be decided and prizes will be given out. 

PRIZES

  • First Prize Winner $5,000 and recorded performance with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra
  • Runner-up Prize $3,000 and recorded performance with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra
  • Most Promising Singer Prize $1,000
  • Sally Stone Prize $1,000
  • 18 & Under Prize $1,000

We ask anyone with questions and queries to contact us at tarlingaria@gmail.com

FINAL ROUND RECITAL accompanied by Rosemary Barnes: 
MONDAY 10 – TUESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2025,  DUE DROP EVENTS CENTRE  

Finalists will be invited to perform up to 8 minutes (5 minutes for Junior category) with piano accompaniment on Tuesday 11 February 2025, to adjudicators, friends, and whānau in the Final Round Recital. The winners will be announced at the end of the evening. Participants must also be available for a dress rehearsal in the late afternoon / evening of Monday 10 February 2025.

FIRST PRIZE WINNER AND RUNNER-UP PERFORMANCES TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY 15 JUNE 2025, 5.00PM, AT THE MSO FAMILY CONCERT, DUE DROP EVENTS CENTRE, MANUKAU, 

2025 Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition Finalists

2025 Winners

First Place: Breony Bearman – Soprano
Runner-up: Jasmine Jessen – Soprano
Most Promising: Emma Jones – Soprano
Sally Stone Award: Olivia Forbes – Soprano

Tarling Aria Trophy: Stephanie Cortesi – Soprano
Runner-up: Sam Elmi – Tenor

18 and Under: Samuel Mataele – Countertenor
Runner-up: Nikau Grace Chater – Soprano

Scholarship Finalists

Charles Cole
Jasmine Jessen
Olivia Forbes
Ellis Carrington
Mairead McCaughan
Erin Connelly-Whyte
Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono
Handong Fu
Breony Bearman
Emma Jones
Rong Zhang
Edward Smith
Wesley Haotian Yu
Jessica Webber

18 and Under Finalists

 Katie Brown
Alice Carter
Cindy Li
Anastasia Puttick
Samuel Mataele
Maria Gow
Nikau Grace Chater

Tarling Aria Trophy Finalists

Sam Elmi
Hans van Zelst
Zoe Ciu
Stephanie Cortesi

Looking back on our 2024 winners

2024 WINNERS

Sarah Mileham – Soprano – Winner

Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono – Baritone – Runner-up 

Breony Bearman – Soprano – & Ridge Ponini – Tenor – Most Promising (shared prize)

Venessa Joyce – Soprano – 18 & Under Winner

18 & UNDER FINALISTS                                                                          

Amelia Blessan
Saara Desai
Sofia Gong
Venessa Joyce
Mason Lin

OVER 18 FINALISTS

Tayla Alexander
Breony Bearman
Rhiannon Cooper
Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono 
Jasmine Jessen
Emma Jones
Samuel McKeever 
Sarah Mileham
Ridge Ponini
Thomas Roeshol
Olga Shanina
Taylor Wallbank
Jessica Webber