Ben Makisi

Benjamin is NZ’s finest Pacific Operatic Tenor and is of Samoan and Tongan Descent.

He has graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand and also a Master of Performance (Opera) from University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

He has won many awards and International competitions: Francesco Viñas Internationale Concourso Semi Finalist (2005) Barcelona, Spain; Wellington Pacific Island People’s Arts Award (2003) Wellington, New Zealand; Iosefa Enari Memorial Award (2002) Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney McDonalds Aria Competition First (2002) Sydney, Australia; Runner-Up at the National Australian Eisteddfod Aria Award (2002) Canberra, Australia; Rotorua Lockwood Aria Competition First (2001) Rotorua, New Zealand; Willi Fels Memorial Award (1996 - 2005) Wellington, New Zealand. Herbert Sutcliffe Scholarship (1992) Wellington, New Zealand, Lions Rotary Music Scholarship (1992) Wellington, New Zealand.

He has appeared in many Musicals and Operatic shows; Ferrando in MOZART Così Fan tutte NZ Tour (2004), Gisborne Choral Society Pollione in BELLINI Norma Gisborne, NZ (2004), NBRNZOpera Tour Count Almaviva in ROSSINI Barber of Seville NZ Tour (2003), SEL/GFO Productions Australia Prisoner, Muleteer, Turkish Moor, Understudy to Sancho Panza in WASSERMAN Man of La Mancha, Melbourne and Sydney Australia (2002).

He has recently performed the role of Mome in Opeloge Ah Sam’s Samoan opera – Fa’amusica ‘Aua e te tagi’ in 2006. He continues to audition and has also sung in London, Italy, Spain, New York, Houston, LA, San Francisco, and the NYIOP, USA.

He is a regular concert performer for NZ Opera Friends at Ayrlies, Auckland, Orpheus Choir, Wellington, NSW Country Women’s Association, NSW, Australia, Operatunity Daytime Series Concerts, NZ and NSW Opera Vocal and Arts support group.
He toured in LA, NY, Washington DC, Michigan and Hawai’i in 2005 with Sara Jane Auva’a. He has performed for HRH Prince Charles at Aotea Center, Auckland. He has sung for many dignitaries including Prime Minister of NZ Hon. Helen Clarke, Prime Minister of Australia Hon. John Howard HRH King Ta’ufahau of Tonga, Parliamentary dignitaries of Western Samoa and also the Pacific Leaders Forum (2003), Auckland, New Zealand. He is a semi finalist for the MTO-GAOG Award to work and live in Frankfurt, Germany and will also feature in NBRNZ Opera Season in Donizetti’s Opera Lucia di Lammermoor and also in Puccini’s extravagant opera Turandot for 2007. In 2008 he will be understudying the Lead Tenor role in Puccini’s opera La Boheme and in Donizetti’s Opera Lucia di Lammermoor for Opera Australia in Sydney.

He still pursues his goal of becoming an International Opera singer and he hopes to inspire under-privileged children and to combine his musical operatic abilities with his Pacific Heritage music and to encourage the importance of being a Pacific Islander through his cultural identity.