Bay winner `dumbstruck' by her success | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Napier's Madeleine Pierard joined the elite ranks of New Zealand opera singers last night, winning the 2005 Lexus Song Quest at the competition's finals concert in the Auckland Town Hall.

Runner-up was Allison Cormack from Dannevirke.

In a tightly-fought contest in front of legendary American opera diva and competition judge Grace Bumbry, mezzo Ms Pierard triumphed with performances of Duparc's Chanson Triste in the Lieder and Art Song section, and Mozart's Parto, Parto (La Clemenza di Tito) and Rossini's Una voce poco fa (The Barber of Seville) in the Orchestral Section.

Ms Pierard said she was stunned by her success.

"I am absolutely dumbstruck and I find it difficult to breathe," she said shortly after her performance.

She hoped that the win would help open many doors for her. Ms Bumbry said she was impressed by Ms Pierard's professionalism.

"It is quite unique to see such concentration and focus in such a young lady. That made the difference," she said.

Ms Pierard, 23, studies in Wellington. She has a Bachelor of Music in Composition and in Performance Voice from Victoria University of Wellington and is completing an Honours course in Performance Voice.

She is a member of Tower Voices New Zealand, the Tudor Consort and the Chapman Tripp Chorus of the NBR New Zealand Opera and was a member of Tower New Zealand Youth Choir from 2000 to 2003.

Last year she won the PACANZ National Young Performer Award as well as a Rotary Scholarship for excellence in the study of music and, this year, she is the holder of a Moyra Todd Scholarship.

Last month Ms Pierard won first prize in the Napier Computer Systems Aria Contest, and the HB Song and Opera Recital class.

As winner Ms Pierard received a cash prize of $10,000 and a Study Scholarship of $15,000 plus a return economy international airfare.

Ms Cormack, who is now based in Wellington, said she was "absolutely thrilled" at her success.

Ms Cormack, 25, is completing a Bachelor of Music in Performance Voice at Victoria University, and plans to go overseas.

She also is has a Diploma in Performing Arts - Voice from the Hawke's Bay's Eastern Institute of Technology and holds a 2005 Moyra Todd Scholarship.

She is also a member of the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus of the NBR New Zealand Opera.

Third placegetter was Jamie Frater. The other finalists were Joanna Heslop, Penelope Muir, and Robert Tucker.

The Lexus Song Quest (formerly known as the Mobil Song Quest) was established in 1956 and is a premiere biennial event in the arts calendar, focussed on artistic development for New Zealand's most talented young classical singers.

Previous winners include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major and Jonathan Lemalu.