Mr Simon O’Neill, ONZM of Auckland, for services to opera.
Mr O’Neill is one of the world’s finest “heldentenors” (heroic tenors). He is a principal artist with the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Teatro alla Scala; Berlin, Vienna and Bayerische State Operas; and both the Salzburg and Bayreuth Festivals. He has performed at distinguished venues world-wide, with top international orchestras. He appeared on EMI’s ‘Voices of German Opera’ compilation. He is an Adjunct Research Fellow at Te Koki New Zealand School of Music, where he provides masterclasses and coaching sessions. He has been a guest tutor and artist-in-residence at the New Zealand Opera School. He is patron of the New Zealand Singing School Trust and the New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing. Mr O’Neill regularly performs with the NZSO, Auckland Philharmonia and New Zealand Opera.