Malvina Major
Encyclopedia
Dame Malvina Lorraine Major, GNZM
, DBE (born 28 January 1943) is a New Zealand opera singer. She was born in Hamilton, New Zealand
into a large musical family. As a child she performed at various concerts, singing mainly country and western
pop and music from the shows. She received her first classical training in 1955, from Sister Mary Magdalen at Ngaruawahia
, north of Hamilton. Sister Febronie continued with her voice training and Sister Liguori gave her piano tuition. As her potential blossomed, Major began travelling weekly to Ponsonby
in Auckland
, where she received further tuition from Dame Sister Mary Leo
at St Mary's College Music School. Sister Mary Leo was internationally recognised as one of the great music teachers, and she later taught another famous New Zealand soprano, Kiri Te Kanawa
.
Major later moved to England
for further study at the London Opera Centre under the guidance of renowned teacher Ruth Packer
.
Her successes include winning the 1963 New Zealand Mobil Song Quest beating Te Kanawa who placed second (Dame Kiri later won the 1965 contest). She also won the Australia
n Melbourne Sun-Aria
in 1965, and the prestigious London based Kathleen Ferrier Award
in 1966. Malvina later performed in international concerts including a BBC
concert broadcast in London, an outdoor concert at the pyramids
in Egypt
with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra
, and a charity concert for Vera Lynn
in London. She has performed more than 30 opera roles in their original languages. She has recorded numerous records and CDs.
She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(DBE) in 1991 in recognition of her contributions to music, and a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (PCNZM) in 2008 for her contributions to opera. This was later exchanged for Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
In 1992 she established a foundation to promote education through awards and provide training for young New Zealanders in the performing arts. One such recipient of her personal training is Hayley Westenra
. Recent international concert performances have taken her to Asia
, the Middle East
, the United States
, Australia and Britain. She is currently Professor of Voice at University of Canterbury
in Christchurch
, New Zealand. In 2008 Major performed How Great Thou Art
at the funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary. On 18 March 2011, Major performed in the national Christchurch memorial service at Hagley Park
of Christchurch
in the presence of Prince William, Prime Minister John Key
, Bob Parker, Hayley Westenra
, ChristChurch Cathedral Choir
, dignitaries, international rescue teams and tens of thousands of New Zealanders
.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, DBE (born 28 January 1943) is a New Zealand opera singer. She was born in Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
into a large musical family. As a child she performed at various concerts, singing mainly country and western
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
pop and music from the shows. She received her first classical training in 1955, from Sister Mary Magdalen at Ngaruawahia
Ngaruawahia
Ngāruawāhia is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 km north-west of Hamilton at the confluence of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers...
, north of Hamilton. Sister Febronie continued with her voice training and Sister Liguori gave her piano tuition. As her potential blossomed, Major began travelling weekly to Ponsonby
Ponsonby
Ponsonby is a surname which may refer to:*Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede was a British politician, writer, and social activist...
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, where she received further tuition from Dame Sister Mary Leo
Sister Mary Leo
Dame Sister Mary Leo, DBE, RSM was a New Zealand nun who is best known for training some of the world's finest sopranos, including Dames Malvina Major, Kiri Te Kanawa and Heather Begg....
at St Mary's College Music School. Sister Mary Leo was internationally recognised as one of the great music teachers, and she later taught another famous New Zealand soprano, Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
.
Major later moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for further study at the London Opera Centre under the guidance of renowned teacher Ruth Packer
Ruth Packer
Ruth Packer was an English operatic soprano.In 1939, she made her operatic debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in Die Walküre. During World War Two, she appeared frequently with Sadler's Wells Opera and the Carl Rosa Opera Company...
.
Her successes include winning the 1963 New Zealand Mobil Song Quest beating Te Kanawa who placed second (Dame Kiri later won the 1965 contest). She also won the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Melbourne Sun-Aria
Melbourne Sun-Aria
The Herald Sun Aria Competition, formerly known as The Sun Aria is a vocal competition held in Ballarat, Victoria and Melbourne, Australia, each year....
in 1965, and the prestigious London based Kathleen Ferrier Award
Kathleen Ferrier Award
The Kathleen Ferrier Award is a prestigious contest for Opera singers held each April in London, England. The first competition was held in 1956. Originally conceived to offer a prize equivalent to a year's tuition plus support, the competition now offers a first prize of £10,000, a second prize...
in 1966. Malvina later performed in international concerts including a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
concert broadcast in London, an outdoor concert at the pyramids
Egyptian pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid-shaped masonry structures located in Egypt.There are 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt as of 2008. Most were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods.The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra
Cairo Opera House
The Cairo Opera House , part of Cairo's National Cultural Center, is the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital. Home to most of Egypt's finest musical groups, it is located on the southern portion of Gezira Island in the Nile River, in the Zamalek district west of and near downtown...
, and a charity concert for Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
in London. She has performed more than 30 opera roles in their original languages. She has recorded numerous records and CDs.
She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(DBE) in 1991 in recognition of her contributions to music, and a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (PCNZM) in 2008 for her contributions to opera. This was later exchanged for Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
In 1992 she established a foundation to promote education through awards and provide training for young New Zealanders in the performing arts. One such recipient of her personal training is Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
. Recent international concert performances have taken her to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia and Britain. She is currently Professor of Voice at University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand. In 2008 Major performed How Great Thou Art
How Great Thou Art
How Great Thou Art may refer to:*"How Great Thou Art" by Carl Boberg*How Great Thou Art *How Great Thou Art *How Great Thou Art, an album by The Statler Brothers...
at the funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary. On 18 March 2011, Major performed in the national Christchurch memorial service at Hagley Park
Hagley Park
Hagley Park is the largest urban open space in Christchurch, New Zealand, and was created in 1855 by the Provincial Government. According to the government's decree at that time, Hagley Park is "reserved forever as a public park, and shall be open for the recreation and enjoyment of the public."...
of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in the presence of Prince William, Prime Minister John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
, Bob Parker, Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
, ChristChurch Cathedral Choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, dignitaries, international rescue teams and tens of thousands of New Zealanders
New Zealanders
New Zealanders, colloquially known as Kiwis, are citizens of New Zealand. New Zealand is a multiethnic society, and home to people of many different national origins...
.