New Zealand–born Tongan tenor, Manase Latu was runner-up in the 2024 Lexus Song Quest, Aotearoa, New Zealand’s premier opera singing competition. Manase was selected from a pool of 29 top-quality applications for the song quest competition.

The finalists of the 2024 Lexus Song Quest competed on Saturday 3 August, at the Grand Final Gala at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Mezzo-soprano singer Katie Trigg of Hamilton was named as the winner of the 2024 Lexus Song Quest.  Manase won a cash prize of $20,000 for placing runner-up. Austin Haynes came in third place. 

International Head Judge, Grammy Award-winning lyric coloratura soprano, Sumi Jo, said she has been very impressed with the high standard of all five finalists. “The talent displayed by these young singers at this weekend's Grand Final Gala was outstanding, and each of them truly earned their spot in the Lexus Song Quest Grand Final. While having a stunning voice with flawless tone, technique, and musicality is essential, it's equally important to shine with star quality and charisma that grabs the audience’s attention."

Vice President of Lexus New Zealand, Andrew Davis, said the Song Quest is a spectacular evening and widely considered to be one of the most exciting nights on Aotearoa’s classical calendar. “Once again, it was an extraordinary evening of New Zealand’s finest operatic talent. We wish all the winners all the best with their future endeavours. We know that the Lexus Song Quest is a proven springboard as it has led to many extremely successful operatic careers, including the great Dame Kiri Te Kanawa herself, who was the 1965 winner,” he said. “We have been extremely proud to be associated with these awards since 2005. The Lexus brand is all about experiencing the amazing – and we certainly did experience amazing performances at the Lexus Song Quest.”

The next Song Quest will take place in 2026.

The Lexus Song Quest is produced by Tāwhiri and supported by Lexus New Zealand, the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Creative New Zealand, MagicFM, RNZ Concert, The Post and Phantom Billstickers.

New Zealand–born Tongan

Manase recently completed the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera in the USA.

During the Metropolitan Opera’s 2022–23 season, he sang the role of a Trojan Soldier in Idomeneo and the First Guard in the holiday production of The Magic Flute.

He made his Met debut as the Second Player in Hamlet during the 2021–22 season and participated in the annual Lindemann Program recital series held at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

During the summer of 2022, Manase was selected as a Renee Fleming Artist for "The Aspen Music Festival and School" where he performed Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni under the baton of Dame Jane Glover.

As a former Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist and Freemason’s Artist with New Zealand Opera, Manase has covered and performed roles such as Spoletta in Tosca, Nemorino in Lelisir D’amore, Defendant in Trial by Jury, Parpignol in La Bohome and Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia.

He has performed a number of Oratorio such as Haydn’s Theresienmesse and Mozart’s Sparrow Mass with New Choral Society, Elgar’s The Apostles with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah with the Auckland Choral Society, Messe Solenelle with Bach Musica, Handel’s Judas Maccabeus with Handel Consort & Quire, Donizetti’s Requiem with Teapot Valley Choir and Orchestra, Elijah with Whangarei Choral Society, Missa Criolla with Nelson Civic Choir and Orchestra, Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the University of Auckland and Britten’s Saint Nicolas with the Auckland Youth Choir & Orchestra.

Manase has been a recipient of a number of esteemed scholarships such as the University New Zealand’s Patricia Pratt scholarship, Kiwi Music Scholarship, Creative New Zealand’s Iosefa Enari Memorial Scholarship, Goodenough College Music Scholarship, University of Auckland 40 under 40 award and the Circle100 scholarship.

He has also thrived in various competitions in Australasia, placing first in the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition, first in New Zealand Aria competition, first in Dame Malvina Major Napier competition, second in the PACANZ Young Performer of the Year and a finalist in the Lexus Song Quest competition.