Former Sacred Heart student wins Song Quest

Samuel Mataele’s commanding performance wowed the judges in the competition earlier this month and earned him $50,000.

Currently attending the University of Auckland and studying music and psychology, Mr Matele’s extraordinary talent was honed while he was at Sacred Heart.

When his flute teacher heard Mr Mataele approaching in the corridor of the school music department singing César Franck’s Panis Angelicus, that flute teacher got in touch with vocal coach Fiona Ferens, Radio New Zealand reported last year. When Ms Ferens heard Mr Mataele’s voice, she offered to teach him for free.

That partnership led to Mr Mataele winning the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition in the 18 years and under category singing But Who May Abide from Handel’s oratorio Messiah.

Dr Morag Atchison, a leading soprano and senior lecturer in voice at the University of Auckland’s School of Music, said Ms Ferens “gave him the most extraordinary start vocally and musically, and has continued to be his mentor”.

“Fiona suggested that Sam entered the [Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest] competition ‘just for the experience’. What an experience!”

Dr Atchison said she is looking forward to working with Mr Mataele further.

“Samuel is an extraordinary young singer who has an innate sense of musicality with a vocal technique well beyond his years. He certainly has the makings of being a world-class singer.” 

The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest is New Zealand opera’s most prestigious singing competition and has launched the opera careers of many talented New Zealanders. The six finalists performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre in the presence of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and American opera star Frederica von Stade, who was international head judge.

Mr Mataele was raised in Mt Wellington and was educated at Mt Carmel School, as well as Sacred Heart, The Post reported.

While his parents are not musicians, they made sure their children learned to play instruments. As well as picking up the flute, Mr Mataele can also play the violin, piano and organ. Performing with the Auckland Boys Choir from the age of six exposed him to classical and opera music.

FULL STORY

Music student Samuel Mataele wins Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest (University of Auckland)

Teenage counter-tenor Samuel Mataele (Radio New Zealand)

Samuel Mataele (Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest)

Song Quest winner Samuel Mataele on why opera matters (The Post – subscription required)