Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition

12/07/2026

We're absolutely delighted to celebrate Samuel Mataele's success in winning the 2026 Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest! 🎉

Samuel first came to the attention of many of our audience members when he won the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 18 & Under Division in 2025. Since then, he has continued to impress audiences around New Zealand, including as the countertenor soloist in Auckland Choral's 2025 performance of Handel's Messiah.

We're equally proud to see another member of the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition family, our 2024 Scholarship Division winner Sarah Mileham, reach the Song Quest final alongside such an exceptional group of young artists.

Congratulations to Samuel, Sarah, and all six finalists. We look forward to following your careers with great interest!

Samuel Mataele, a 19-year-old Auckland countertenor, took home the $50,000 top prize.

05/07/2026

Congratulations to all six finalists in the inaugural Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest! 👏

We're especially thrilled to see two Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition winners among the finalists – Sarah Mileham, winner of the 2024 Competition, and Samuel Mataele, winner of the 2025 18 & Under Competition.

We wish Sarah, Samuel, and all of the finalists the very best for next Saturday's Grand Final Gala. What an exciting opportunity to perform with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra before an international judging panel led by Frederica von Stade.

Good luck to everyone – we'll be cheering you on! 🎶

Congratulations to the six Finalists of the inaugural Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest! ✨

⭐ Cecily Shaw
⭐ Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono
⭐ Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono
⭐ Samuel Downes
⭐ Samuel Mataele
⭐ Sarah Mileham

See who will be crowned the 2026 Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest WINNER and attend the Grand Final Gala at Michael Fowler Centre next Saturday 11 July. Don't miss this opportunity to see these incredible talents perform with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra before International Head Judge Frederica von Stade 🤩

🎫 Tickets available at songquest.nz/grandfinalgala 🔗

📸 Pictured with International Head Judge Frederica von Stade. Photo by Hagen Hopkins.

19/06/2026

Huge congratulations to the 2026 Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition Winner Jack Doyle and 2024 Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition Winner Sarah Mileham. We wish you and all other recipients of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Arts Excellence Awards every success with your continuing studies!

29/04/2026

Great to see such strong representation from Aotearoa’s emerging singers in the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest semi-finals 👏

Several of the names featured here are familiar to us from the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition – former finalists and prize winners continuing to make their mark at the highest level!

It’s a reminder of the important role competitions like NTAC play in supporting young singers at a crucial stage in their development, and it’s fantastic to see that journey continuing on a national platform.

We’ll be following the next stages with interest – best of luck to all involved!

16/02/2026

🎉 AND THE WINNER IS… 🎉

✨ Scholarship Division Winner: Countertenor JACK DOYLE ✨

Jack captivated the hall with his Handel aria – full of conviction, dramatic intensity, and superb control – earning the top prize from our adjudicators.

👏 18 & Under Division
Winner: Nikau Grace Chater
Runner-up: Sophie Yun Hu

🏆 Tarling Trophy (Over 35s)
Winner: Olga Shanina
Runner-up: Yang Liu

🎓 Scholarship Division
Winner: Jack Doyle
Runner-up: Rong Zhang

🌟 Special Prizes
Most Promising Artist: Molly Ryan
Sally Stone Prize for outstanding talent: Samuel Mataele

Congratulations to all our finalists for an outstanding afternoon of singing at the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition. The standard was exceptional, and the future of vocal performance in Aotearoa is in very good hands.

📸 Photos by Tom Hamill — more highlights to follow!

15/02/2026

Scholarship round Livestream now happening!

Sunday 15 February 2026 | Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau3.00pm 18 & Under and Tarling Trophy divisions (ages 36 and over)4.30pm Scholarship division (ages ...

15/02/2026

Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition on NOW! Due Drop Events Center, Manukau!

14/02/2026

🎼 Meet the Judges – 2026 Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition Final

Adjudicating this afternoon:

• Patricia Wright – soprano and teacher
• Claire Caldwell – vocal coach and mentor
• Terence Dennis MNZM – pianist and Professor Emeritus

Chaired by Professor Uwe Grodd, Music Director of the Manukau Symphony Orchestra.

📅 Today – Sunday 15 February
🕒 3.00pm (18&Under / Tarling Trophy)
🕒 4.30pm Scholarship Division
📍 Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau
🎟 Free entry, no tickets required

Yesterday’s rehearsals were exceptional – you’re in for something special.

You won’t want to miss this!

14/02/2026