Famous Like Me > Actress > M > Malvina Major
Profile of Malvina Major
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Name: |
Malvina Major |
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Also Know As: |
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Date of Birth: |
28th January 1943 |
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Place of Birth: |
Hamilton, New Zealand |
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Profession: |
Actress |
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From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia Dame Malvina Major, (born 28 January 1943) is one of the world's finest sopranos. She was born at Hamilton, New Zealand into a large, musical family and had a voice and projection that cried out for discipline.
As a child she performed at various concerts, singing mainly country and western pop and music from the shows. She did not receive her first classical training until 1955, from Sister Mary Magdalen at the town of Ngaruawahia which is slightly north of Hamilton. Sister Febronie continued with her voice training and Sister Liguori gave her piano tuition. As her potential blossomed, Major began travelling weekly to Ponsonby in Auckland where she received further tuition from Dame Sister Mary Leo at St Mary's College Music School. Sister Mary Leo was internationally recognised as one of the great music teachers, and she would later teach another famous New Zealand soprano, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Major moved to England for further study at the London Opera Centre, under the guidance of renowned teacher Ruth Packer.
Her successes include winning the prestigious New Zealand Mobil Song Quest in 1963 (later won by Dame Kiri), the Australian Melbourne Sun-Aria in 1965, and the coveted Kathleen Ferrier Award in London. She also 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 Dame Vera Lynn in London. She has demonstrated her versatility by performing more than 30 opera roles in their original languages. She has recorded numerous records and CDs.
She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in 1991 in recognition of her contributions to music.
In 1992 she established a foundation to promote education through awards and provide training for young New Zealanders in the performing arts. Recent international concert performances have taken her to Asia, the Middle East, the United States, Australia and Britain. She is currently Professor of Music at Canterbury University in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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