Vocalists win big at ARIA competition

It was her first time performing in a large vocal competition, but Emily Dela Rue didn’t let her nerves waver her three performances at the New Zealand Aria Awards held at the Rotorua Performing Arts Centre.

The 16-year-old walked away with second place in the 16 and under-18 vocalist section held on the first day of New Zealand’s largest music competition, which attracted hundreds of competitors from across the country and Australia.

The vocalist, who has only been singing for two years, placed second from her combined scores in three performances in the 16 and under-18 section:

• second for Light Entertainment, There are worse things I could do
• third for Own Selection, Losing my mind
• very highly commended for Traditional Folk Song, The water is wide.

Fellow student Aidan Phillips, a seasoned competitor, entered the same age group. The 17-year-old entered five sections and was awarded:

• first for Song by a New Zealand Composer, He Mihi Ki Te Kaua
• second for Own Selection, The Way Back from Jekyll and Hyde, and a duet with Ellis Carrington
• third for Traditional Folk Song, Loch Lomand
• very highly commended for Sacred Song, Panis Angelicus.

Aidan also competed on the second day of the competition, which is traditionally for more experienced singers from university and post-university age groups.

Fellow student Katie Trigg, who was recently awarded a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship to the University of Waikato, joined him.

The two New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Choir vocalists entered the under-21 section.

Katie sung four operas, three of which were in other languages. Aidan also sung four operas and was awarded a very highly commended for his Art Song The Vagabond and second place in Light Entertainment for It’s Hard to Speak My Mind.

St Paul’s vocalists were supported by accelerando vocal coach Ian Campbell and accompanist Dr Greg Neil.