William Winitana

William Winitana - Portia's Tangata Kai Tangitangi (singer)

Opera singer William Winitana is part of Portia’s team of entertainers and craftspeople in her home. Director Don Selwyn has converted Shakespeare’s fictitious magical land of Belmont into a Maori place, Peremona, which is a showcase for Maori culture, music, art and design.

Winitana, of Kahungunu and Tuhoe descent, trained as a dancer and then moved into radio in Hastings as a copywriter. He discovered his talent for opera when he attended a singing course without realising it was for opera singing.

 After completing his diploma in Hawkes Bay three years ago, he moved to Auckland to complete his studies at the University of Auckland.

In 1999 he had a developing artist scholarship with Opera New Zealand and in the past two years has performed in La Boheme, La Rustinacana, Die Fleidermaus, Madam Butterfly and La Traviata.

 

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