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Marlena Devoe won the 2014 Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Awards in Sydney on Saturday. The stunning 27 year old New Zealand born Samoan Soprano rose above the finest young opera singers in Australasia to win the prestigious annual award that features the Bel Canto style; popularised by Dame Kiri te Kanawa.  Fellow young kiwi opera singer James Ioelu also voiced his star presence by taking home the Tait Prize and the Richard Bonynge Award.  Devoe and Ioelu are both long time students of world renowned New Zealand repetiteur Frances Wilson who is thrilled at their achievement. 

“It was an unanimous decision by the judges and it is wonderful that Marlena and James’ talents have been acknowledged, in particular by Richard Bonynge, who really is the best living expert on Bel Canto."  Frances Wilson

Marlena Devoe and James Ioelu will be starring alongside New Zealand’s own opera star Philip Rhodes and Australian Tenor David Woodward in the Auckland Opera Studio’s up and coming production of Lucia Di Lammermoor on Oct 10th and 12th at The Mercury Theatre, Auckland.  Tickets are available from iticket 361 1000 / 0508 484 253.