1. Malvina Major grew up in a large musical family, and as a child she performed at various concerts, singing mainly country and western pop and music from the shows.
15 Facts About Malvina Major
1. 2.
Malvina Major received her first classical training in 1955, from Sister Mary Magdalen at Ngaruawahia, north of Hamilton.
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In 1965, Malvina Major married Winston William Richard Fleming, and the couple had three children.
4.
Malvina Major moved to England for further study at the London Opera Centre under the guidance of teacher Ruth Packer.
5.
Malvina Major's successes include winning the 1963 New Zealand Mobil Song Quest beating Te Kanawa who placed second.
6.
Malvina Major won the Australian Melbourne Sun Aria competition in 1965, and the London-based Kathleen Ferrier Award in 1966.
7.
Malvina Major 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.
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Malvina Major has performed more than 30 opera roles in their original languages.
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Malvina Major was made a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to opera, in the 2008 New Year Honours.
10.
In 1998, Malvina Major received the Benny Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc.
11.
In 2008, Malvina Major performed a solo and duet with Hayley Westenra on the ChristChurch Cathedral Choir 2008 UK Tour.
12.
On 18 March 2011, Malvina Major performed in the national Christchurch memorial service at Hagley Park, 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.
13.
On 25 February 2012, Malvina Major performed with soprano Amina Edris and tenor Chase Douglas in the Waikato Times Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival.
14.
Recipients of the Foundation's annual $50,000 Dame Malvina Major Award include Amitai Pati and Natasha Te Rupe Wilson.
15.
Malvina Major is listed in 2022 as an Associate at the music programme at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.