New Zealand–born Tongan tenor, Manase Latu was named as one of five top finalists for the 2024 Lexus Song Quest, Aotearoa - New Zealands’s premier opera singing competition. The finalists were announced last night, 28 July, following two semi-final concerts on 27-28 July, at St Andrew’s on The Terrace in Wellington.

Grammy Award-winning South Korean lyric coloratura soprano, Sumi Jo judged the finalists in front of a live audience. “Choosing a top five from such a skilled group of semi-finalists has been incredibly challenging. Beyond having a beautiful voice with impeccable tone, technique, and musicality, it's essential to possess star quality and charisma that immediately captivates the audience. Effective communication is key, but in today’s world, intelligence, a business mindset, and determination are also crucial for managing a future as a professional singer," she said.

The finalists for the 2024 Lexus Song Quest in association with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation will compete for the title at the Grand Final Gala at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Saturday 3 August, accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

In its 68 year history, the Song Quest has launched the careers of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated singers including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major, Phillip Rhodes, Jonathan Lemalu and Sol3 Mio’s Amitai Pati.

Manase Latu was previously a finalist in the 2018 Lexus Song Quest. He has a Bachelor of Music with first class honours from University of Auckland, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Studies at the Royal College of Music in London, attended as a Kiri Scholar.

Five finalists

• Manase Latu (28), tenor from Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland
• Katie Trigg (25), mezzo-soprano from Ngāhinapōuri/Hamilton
• Austin Haynes (23), countertenor, from Kā Muriwai/Arrowtown and Naarm/Melbourne
• Morgan-Andrew King (24), bass from Tahaaroa, Waikato
• Tayla Alexander (23), soprano from Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland