11 Facts About Jonathan Lemalu

Jonathan Fa'afetai Lemalu was born on 1976 and is a New Zealand bass baritone opera singer.

Jonathan Lemalu's first singing teacher was Honor McKellar, who began teaching him while he attended Otago Boys' High School.

Jonathan Lemalu studied both Law and Music at the University of Otago, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1999.

Jonathan Lemalu won the prestigious London-based Kathleen Ferrier Award that same year.

Jonathan Lemalu was a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist from 2002 to 2004.

Jonathan Lemalu was the 2004 winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society's award for Young Artist of the Year.

At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Jonathan Lemalu was a co-recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for his work on Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd.

Jonathan Lemalu returned to New Zealand to perform in the 2012 New Zealand Festival of the Arts in Wellington.

Jonathan Lemalu took the part of Te Kumete in the opera Hohepa by Jenny McLeod which told the story of political prisoner Hohepa Te Umuroa.

Jonathan Lemalu was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music in 2022 in recognition of his services to music and to the College.

Jonathan Lemalu is currently a professor of Vocal Studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.