The Canterbury Opera Foundation
The Canterbury Opera Foundation was established in 2001 to promote opera in Canterbury, whilst supporting emerging artists.
In order for young artists to develop creatively and professionally, they need both training and regular performance opportunities. Embodied in our Trust Deed is the commitment to support high-quality, professional opera opportunities for local artists, audiences and theatre practitioners.
Producing quality opera of an international standard is very rewarding. However, it is also expensive and requires great vision, high levels of performance, direction and production. Critical to this is ensuring adequate funding to achieve these objectives.
Almaviva and Figaro
Our History
The Canterbury Opera Foundation has an investment fund that has been gifted by many generous benefactors over the years. Between 2007 and 2010 the foundation received a number of large donations from its then Trustee, the late Ron Ball. Ron’s donations allowed the foundation to support mainstage opera in Canterbury whilst furthering its support of emerging artists. The Elizabeth Ball Charitable Trust has recently built on Ron’s legacy by committing to provide the foundation with a large annual donation to support opera in Canterbury.
Over the past two decades, the foundation has supported many emerging artists to further their careers and assisted with funding opera productions, including NZ Opera and Toi Toi Opera.
The foundation also presents local audiences with events and opportunities to meet both visiting and local artists and theatre practitioners who are part of the professional opera productions in Canterbury.
OUR MISSION
Our principal aim is to support emerging artists and opera in Canterbury.
This will enable us to continue to nurture talented Cantabrians whilst ensuring local audiences can experience and enjoy quality opera performances in Canterbury. We are joined in this vision by opera lovers, friends, sponsors and supporters making their own contributions to the fund. The fund is supported through donations, bequests and participation in our calendar of special fundraising events. Many have already helped increase our capital base with their generosity over many years.
Our Patron
Teddy Tahu Rhodes is one of New Zealand’s most prominent operatic performers with a significant international career.
From early beginnings in Christchurch with Canterbury Opera, Teddy has gone on to make an international career performing with the major opera houses and symphony orchestras across Europe, The United States, United Kingdom, Russia and Australasia. Teddy recently returned to adjudicate The Lexus Song Quest which he won 32 years ago, when it was known as The Mobil Song Quest. These days, although still performing, Teddy is now mentoring and coaching the next generation of singers involved in the production of concerts and shows.
We are honoured to have Teddy as our patron.
“I had the support, opportunity and encouragement I needed to give me a very strong start on the road to where I am today,”... “I’m extremely grateful for that, and fully endorse the work the foundation is doing to provide the same opportunities for the talented youth of the future, and the continuing success of opera in Canterbury.”
Teddy Tahu Rhodes
Our Team
Norman Engel
CHAIRPERSON
I feel tremendously privileged to Chair an organisation that has offered so much support to Opera in Canterbury. I have always had a strong desire to offer my leadership, counsel and experience to a Foundation with which I have had a long affiliation and have served as a trustee since May 2020.
I firmly believe that we must all work closely together to ensure that opera is readily accessible, abundant, and loved by this and future generations.
My working life is taken up with the busy position of Director of Commercial Sales and Tourism for Savills Real Estate (Chch). My career however started in banking following the completion of my degree at the University of Canterbury.
Having lived in Christchurch from the age of two, my love of music began at primary school where I was a chorister at St Barnabas. Classical training continued throughout my high school years under the direction of Gillian Bohan. I was then fortunate enough to receive a Godley Scholarship for singing at the Christchurch Cathedral during my university years.
Three seasons singing in the chorus for Canterbury Opera and an audition for the (then) Mobil Song Quest only furthered my love of opera. Although my days of singing are now behind me, I am excited to now help encourage young artists, as well as making the world of opera as accessible to the wider population as possible.
Trustees
Former Trustees
Ron Ball
Wendy Bayley
Kate Burtt
Penny Giddens
Ross Hutton
Julia Perry
Kevin Sarjeant
Peter Squires
Administrator
Lynne Havenaar
ADMINISTRATOR
Lynne is a freelance administrator and has been the foundation’s administrator since September 2004.
Lynne has supported opera in Canterbury since the inception of Canterbury Opera. Lynne is an enthusiastic audience member, who has been involved in local Christchurch theatre for 40 years, both in administration and backstage roles. Lynne really enjoys her role with the foundation helping to ensure opera remains alive for Christchurch audiences.