Hailing from Hawke’s Bay, 23-year-old mezzo-soprano Kate Manahi has completed her Bachelor of Music with Honours at Victoria University. Kate was a member of Project Prima Volta from 2015 – 2020, where she performed as a chorus member in many of Festival Opera’s productions. Kate’s repertoire includes roles from Dido and Aeneas, The Marriage of Figaro, Così fan tutte, Cendrillon and Der Rosenkavalier. She is also in hot demand as a soloist alongside various choirs, and an alumna of the New Zealand Opera School. Kate was a chorus member in Wellington Opera's production of La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor and Tosca, and features in the New Zealand Opera chorus for the 2025 season. After making her role debut with Festival Opera in Roméo et Juliette, Kate is thrilled to make her return as Dido for yet another stunning season.

Baritone Tomairangi Henare hails from Nuhaka and found his love for performing through kapa haka and choir throughout his childhood. His journey through opera began during high school when he joined the programme Project Prima Volta, a youth initiative in Hawke's Bay that encourages teenagers to use their voice through opera. 

With this new passion, Tomairangi went on to study Classical Performance and Composition at Te Kōki, New Zealand School of Music where he was awarded the 2019 Deane Endowment Trust Scholarship. In 2023 he graduated with his Bachelor of Music with Honours. 

At the age of 23, Tomairangi has performed across New Zealand on various stages including roles such as; Marchesi in Verdi's 'La Traviata' (Festival Opera 2019), Jon Styx in Offenbach's 'Orpheus in the Underworld' (NZSM 2021) and Pandolfe in Massenet's 'Cendrillon' (NZSM 2023). He has also performed in Opera Choruses for Festival Opera, Wellington Opera and New Zealand Opera. 

Through his career, Tomairangi has also been a touring artist for Chamber Music New Zealand 2022 with the quartet 'Tokowhā' and a soloist for Kāpiti Orchestra, Napier Civic Choir and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He was also honoured to be a student at the New Zealand Opera School 2024.

Having had music as a strong influence throughout her childhood, Greer McCarthy holds a great love for classical music and performance. Her passion for music was fostered through learning the violin, starting at age six, and later through her voice after joining the choirs at Taradale High School. In 2020, Greer's love for singing led her to join Project Prima Volta, which provided her with the opportunity to explore and develop her voice through opera. Through the program, Greer has been a part of many projects such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's Broadway Matinee in 2021 and Festival Opera's 2022 production of Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen where she performed the roles of the Owl and Cockrell. In 2023, Greer also sang the role of Papagena in The Magic Flute in Concert with Festival Opera and the NZSO. In 2025, Greer will be entering her third year of study at Te Kōki New Zealand School of Music where she is studying a Bachelor of Music majoring in classical voice performance.

Hailing from Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāariki Kaiputahi, Katherine Winitana is a Flaxmere-born soprano whose diverse musical journey spans contemporary music, jazz, and opera. Katherine initially launched into the creative industry as a jazz singer before pursuing a Bachelor of Commercial Music at Massey University, where she graduated in 2018 and was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Vodafone New Zealand Music Award.

Her passion for classical singing was sparked after participating in the Project Prima Volta programme, which marked the beginning of her transition into opera. Katherine quickly immersed herself in the world of classical music. Within a short period, she was accepted into the New Zealand Opera School, attending from 2020-2024. This was followed by the completion of First Class Honours in Classical Voice, and two years as a Dame Malvina Major Studio Artist programme with New Zealand Opera. Katherine has recently completed her Master’s degree in the inaugural cohort of Te Pae Kokako – The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio at the University of Waikato.

Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono is a 24-year-old Samoan tenor born in Flaxmere, Hastings. He began singing at a young age as a boy-soprano in the church choir. In high school, he sang primarily barbershop, before turning to classical singing. He followed his older brothers in joining the opera youth initiative, Project Prima Volta. Four unforgettable years in the programme sparked a passion for Jordan to continue singing at a tertiary level.

Jordan is now a graduate at The University of Waikato. He holds a Bachelor of Music with Honours (First Class) and a Masters of Music (First Class). He is currently a resident artist with Te Pae Kōkako: The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (TANZOS) for 2025-26 at The University of Waikato under the tutelage of Nikki Li Hartliep. He has also attended the prestigious New Zealand Opera School for 2021, 2022, 2023 and he will return for 2025. In 2023, he was the recipient of the Dame Sister Mary Leo Foundation Award.

Performance highlights for Jordan include: Normanno (Lucia di Lammermoor, Wellington Opera), Beppe (I Pagliacci, Festival Opera) and Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi, The University of Waikato). He has been a finalist in the Lockwood New Zealand Aria (2022 & 2024), Wellington and North Shore Competitions. He was the runner-up in the Hamilton Vocal Competition in 2023 and won the South Auckland Vocal Competition in 2021. Jordan is looking forward to engagements with the Hamilton Gardens Festival, New Zealand Opera and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra next month. Jordan hopes to bring the light of classical music to young people and also shine a light on the raw but unexplored talent of Polynesian artists.

Hastings-born baritone Samuel McKeever completed his Bachelor's Degree in Classical Performance with First Class Honours at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music in 2021. He is a Project Prima Volta graduate, a New Zealand Opera School alumnus, and in 2023 was the winner of the Wellington Aria Competition. He was selected for the Lexus Song Quest in 2024. Samuel is currently a member of the 2024–25 cohort at Te Pae Kōkako – The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (TANZOS). 

Samuel's recent stage history includes the roles of Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette (Festival Opera, 2024), Papageno in The Magic Flute in Concert (Festival Opera/NZSO, 2023), understudy for Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor (Wellington Opera, 2023), Forester in The Cunning Little Vixen (FO, 2022), and the Marchese in La traviata (WO, 2022).

Concert highlights include Messiah (Christchurch City Choir, 2024; Thames, 2022; Napier Civic Choir, 2021), Verdi's Requiem (NCC, 2023), St. John Passion (Bach Musica NZ, 2023), Handel's Samson (BMNZ, 2022), and the NZSO's 'Broadway Matinee' concert in collaboration with Project Prima Volta (2021).

Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono is a 24-year-old Samoan tenor born in Flaxmere, Hastings. He began singing at a young age as a boy-soprano in the church choir. In high school, he sang primarily barbershop, before turning to classical singing. He followed his older brothers in joining the opera youth initiative, Project Prima Volta. Four unforgettable years in the programme sparked a passion for Jordan to continue singing at a tertiary level.

Jordan is now a graduate at The University of Waikato. He holds a Bachelor of Music with Honours (First Class) and a Masters of Music (First Class). He is currently a resident artist with Te Pae Kōkako: The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio (TANZOS) for 2025-26 at The University of Waikato under the tutelage of Nikki Li Hartliep. He has also attended the prestigious New Zealand Opera School for 2021, 2022, 2023 and he will return for 2025. In 2023, he was the recipient of the Dame Sister Mary Leo Foundation Award.

Performance highlights for Jordan include: Normanno (Lucia di Lammermoor, Wellington Opera), Beppe (I Pagliacci, Festival Opera) and Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi, The University of Waikato). He has been a finalist in the Lockwood New Zealand Aria (2022 & 2024), Wellington and North Shore Competitions. He was the runner-up in the Hamilton Vocal Competition in 2023 and won the South Auckland Vocal Competition in 2021. Jordan is looking forward to engagements with the Hamilton Gardens Festival, New Zealand Opera and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra next month. Jordan hopes to bring the light of classical music to young people and also shine a light on the raw but unexplored talent of Polynesian artists.

Hailing from Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāariki Kaiputahi, Katherine Winitana is a Flaxmere-born soprano whose diverse musical journey spans contemporary music, jazz, and opera. Katherine initially launched into the creative industry as a jazz singer before pursuing a Bachelor of Commercial Music at Massey University, where she graduated in 2018 and was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Vodafone New Zealand Music Award.

Her passion for classical singing was sparked after participating in the Project Prima Volta programme, which marked the beginning of her transition into opera. Katherine quickly immersed herself in the world of classical music. Within a short period, she was accepted into the New Zealand Opera School, attending from 2020-2024. This was followed by the completion of First Class Honours in Classical Voice, and two years as a Dame Malvina Major Studio Artist programme with New Zealand Opera. Katherine has recently completed her Master’s degree in the inaugural cohort of Te Pae Kokako – The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio at the University of Waikato.

Catherine Pierard has enjoyed a major international career as a concert performer, oratorio soloist and recording artist. A specialist in both early and contemporary vocal music, she has appeared frequently as a soloist in the UK at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, with Glyndebourne Festival Opera, English Touring Opera and in recital at venues such as the Barbican, the Festival Hall South Bank, the Wigmore Hall and over the channel, at the Concertgebouw, the Spoleto Festival and Maggio Musicale in Florence. Catherine has recorded extensively for EMI, Hyperion and Chandos labels, notably under Richard Hickox, Roger Norrington and with pianists Julius Drake, David Harper and Malcolm Martineau. She has also recorded regularly for BBC Radio 3, adjudicated exams and national competitions both in the UK and New Zealand and is much in demand as a coach for chamber music groups and young singers. 

Now dividing her time between London and Raglan NZ, Catherine is delighted to be performing with Festival Opera and PPV to bring Romeo and Juliet to the stage in Napier.

Baritone Tomairangi Henare hails from Nuhaka and found his love for performing through kapa haka and choir throughout his childhood. His journey through opera began during high school when he joined the programme Project Prima Volta, a youth initiative in Hawke's Bay that encourages teenagers to use their voice through opera. 

With this new passion, Tomairangi went on to study Classical Performance and Composition at Te Kōki, New Zealand School of Music where he was awarded the 2019 Deane Endowment Trust Scholarship. In 2023 he graduated with his Bachelor of Music with Honours. 

At the age of 23, Tomairangi has performed across New Zealand on various stages including roles such as; Marchesi in Verdi's 'La Traviata' (Festival Opera 2019), Jon Styx in Offenbach's 'Orpheus in the Underworld' (NZSM 2021) and Pandolfe in Massenet's 'Cendrillon' (NZSM 2023). He has also performed in Opera Choruses for Festival Opera, Wellington Opera and New Zealand Opera. 

Through his career, Tomairangi has also been a touring artist for Chamber Music New Zealand 2022 with the quartet 'Tokowhā' and a soloist for Kāpiti Orchestra, Napier Civic Choir and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He was also honoured to be a student at the New Zealand Opera School 2024.