Chosen to Sing

Te Ao Hou, June 1963, Page 37

Chosen to Sing Much to her surprise, Thelma was chosen to sing in the opera. ‘I absolutely loved the show. I was very nervous at first, but after the first few nights it was all right. Everyone was terribly kind to me, and I had a wonderful time.’ When the directors of the company discovered the quality of Thelma's voice, they asked her if she would tour New Zealand and travel to Australia with them. This was a very considerable honour, and a rare chance for anyone with ambitions as a singer. Ten years ago, she says, she would have gone like a shot, but now she is settled down, with a husband and a home, and this kind of work isn't possible for her any more. ‘In the end I did give in and go to Christchurch with them for the season there. And I hope to sing with them whenever they come back to Wellington again. They will be here again in August, and I'm looking forward to it very much.’ Thelma said one more thing that interested us very much. Knowing action songs, she says, was a great help to her in learning how to move on the stage, and she found that the movements came easily and naturally to her. This natural stage presence seems to be one more reason why Maoris, who have already produced one distinguished opera singer in Inia Te Wiata, and another one of great promise in Hannah Tatana, are due to produce a great many more opera singers in the future, as they come to have better opportunities for training and using their musical talents. Thelma Keepa is sure that this is going to happen. ‘There are so much better opportunities in New Zealand now for singers, pakehas or Maoris.’ Speaking of Hannah Tatana, she said that she had not yet met her, though she hoped to do so some time. ‘I went to hear her, though, and she has a wonderful voice. She seemed so much at home on the stage there, too—she really did.’