Samuel Mataele wins 2026 Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest in Wellington
19-year-old countertenor Samuel Mataele won the 2026 Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest in Wellington, New Zealand. The prestigious opera competition awarded him a $50,000 prize.
Why it matters
The competition is a significant cultural event that serves as a launchpad for emerging operatic talent in New Zealand.
Samuel Mataele singing at the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest 2026 semi-finals. Photo / Hagen Hopkins
A 19-year-old countertenor from Auckland is the 2026 Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest winner.
Samuel Mataele won the $50,000 first prize at a gala event in Wellington on Saturday night, in Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prestigious opera competition.
The runner-up was soprano Sarah Mileham, 23, from Tauranga who won $20,000.
Auckland-born tenor Samuel Downes, 29, came third and took home $15,000.
The six finalists performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre in the presence of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and international head judge, acclaimed American opera star Frederica von Stade.
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