Reach for sky says superstar

27th November 2008

JANELLE KIRKLAND

He was going to be a banker, but now has one of the most bankable faces in pop music.

Amici Forever superstar tenor Geoff Sewell revealed yesterday that, at 27, broke and without an agent, he almost quit chasing his singing dream to go back to his job at National Bank.

Sewell is now an international face of operatic pop music and a millionaire business owner. He sang at the Rugby League World Cup final.

The London-based superstar tenor blended pop music and opera when he formed Amici Forever, a band of four classically-trained singers that sold more than three million albums worldwide and now employs 120 singers.

Former head boy and tennis champion of Havelock North High School, he spoke at the school yesterday during a visit.

There, he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame alongside motor racing star Greg Murphy.

He serenaded students with inspirational words, moments of emotion and an earnest rendition of How Great Thou Art. Sewell told students to follow their dreams. He told them to ignore people who reject their passions, surround themselves with "better" people and not to wait for others before taking big steps.

He spoke frankly on his own life, his sister's death, his daughter's autism and the "dark days" of rejection that nearly drove him back into banking before brazenly, but successfully, posting a late audition tape to the Boston Conservatory.

"It took a kid from Havelock North High School to make the phone calls and say, 'OK, we can make things happen'.

"It was this school that really formed who I am today. At 35, I look back and go 'actually, those people really made a difference in my life'," Sewell said.

Principal Bill Adams said the school was thrilled to have him return, not as a celebrity but as an achiever. He was convinced if it were not as a singer, he would be welcoming "allrounder" Sewell as a tennis champion or financial wizard.

Students Daniel Wilton and Alice Horne, 15, said he was "inspirational".

The visit was part of a five-day New Zealand trip to launch his solo album Believe.

The school itinerary, publicity and layout was organised by an enterprising class of students.

At the event, Sewell announced a New Zealand tour in February 2009, including a Napier show at Church Road Winery on February 21. Tickets go on sale at Ticket-Direct today.