Young homeless man given the chance to strive through opera

October 1, 2017

Eight Prima Volta students will be displaying their operatic talent in the upcoming Hawke's Bay Arts Festival.

A diverse group of up-and-coming opera students from the Hawke's Bay will take to the stage this week as part of the region's art festival.

Spanning over two weeks, dozens of acts from around the world will perform alongside local Hawke's Bay talent on pop up stages around the region.

One of those acts, 19-year-old Masunu Galo is currently homeless, but when he gets on stage he's at home.

Opera offers him an escape and gives him hope.

"It just brings joy to me to be honest... it doesn't affect anything about you."

He attends the Prima Volta Charitable Trust, a Napier music school giving student's of all backgrounds a chance to strive through opera.

"A lot of kids who come to us and they have never been particularly ambitious, they haven't known what it means to strive and how much gratification it can give you when you excel as an individual," said Prima Volta director, Anna Pierard.

Mr Galo is one of eight excelling that have been accepted into Victoria University's music school.

"It means what we are doing here is useful and that's fundamentally what drives us, we are encouraging them to participate in something that is going to give them opportunities that they wouldn't have," said Ms Pierard.

The eight students will have an opportunity this week to showcase their talents, when they perform in the third annual Hawke's Bay Arts Festival. 

SHARE ME

More Stories