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Kiri Te Kanawa "I would like to advise aspiring and highly talented musicians and enable them to have an education that will help them make something of themselves." going to learn it. If I don't get all the pieces of music or the pianist in line, it's not going to happen. It's about putting all your ducks in a row and taking responsibility for everything," she surmises. Stephen Dee, Director of Kea New Zealand, who has worked with Dame Kiri for over 30 years shares an interesting anecdote of the time he was the Artistic Administrator of the Victoria State Opera. "The year was 1989 and we had planned an outdoor concert with Kiri at a winery in Northern Victoria, where the land had a natural amphitheatre feel to it," he recounts. "But as luck would have it, on the day of the show it rained buckets even though the weather report had said 'no rain'. As people slowly started pouring in, in their gumboots and raincoats, it was rather depressing. It looked like a disaster waiting to happen till Kiri came on stage and made some joke about 'nice weather for ducks'. She could have easily cancelled the performance but instead she lightened up the mood by first thanking everyone for coming and then telling the crowd that she would do the performance without an interval. She was so gracious and soon turned the mood around from negativity to positivity. She took full responsibility for the enjoyment of the crowd. It said a lot about the kind of person she is," he recalls full of admiration for the dignified manner in which she conducted herself. The undeniably beautiful singer is here in Auckland to receive the Iconic New Zealander of the Year Award – a prestigious 12 | www.hermagazine.co.nz award presented to a New Zealander who has enhanced New Zealand's reputation and international standing. "It's a unique honour and very special to me," she says of receiving the Iconic New Zealander Award 2012, which is presented to her by Kea New Zealand, and is a New Zealand Trade and Enterprise initiative. She says she is extremely grateful and has an insatiable drive potential. The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, New Zealand and the Friends of Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, United Kingdom is closest to her heart. The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation was created in 2004 to assist outstanding New Zealand singers with mentoring, financial support and career assistance. Stephen Dee, who is a trustee in both the foundations, reveals that there are times when Kiri goes out of her way to protect her students, which includes giving them food and shelter at her beautiful home in the United Kingdom. "She takes them in when she feels that they need good nutrition and caring. It's a tough world out there and they need to be physically and mentally fit. On the other hand, she pulls no punches when it comes to telling them how it is," he smiles, throwing the spotlight on her generosity of spirit. "It's both fun and hard work," agrees Dame Kiri. "It takes a very long time to find a fine classical singer. In New Zealand it's taken us seven years to find two good singers," she observes wryly. While the students are lucky to have her as a friend and mentor, Dame Kiri believes that she owes it to her mum and dad who worked really hard to give her the right platform. "My parents sacrificed everything for me. I'm really grateful to them. Their legacy stays with me," she declares proudly and then adds thoughtfully, "Sometimes I feel as if my parents are really looking after me. I feel lucky that they are guiding me in the right direction," she says, getting a little misty-eyed. She may have been showered with a to give back by helping young musicians and singers. "I would like to advise aspiring and highly talented musicians and enable them to have an education that will help them make something of themselves. I didn't have anyone to guide me, but I'd like to inspire and guide them on the rigours of the profession," she muses. "Do you know that it take £30,000 to study music in England? Even after spending four to six years doing a masters or a PhD there is no guarantee that they'll make it as a singer. But if you've studied medicine you can become a doctor after spending the same amount of time and money," she says giving the reason behind her spending a very large part of her life mentoring students with a plethora of titles, awards and gifts but her most precious moment to date remains the time her dad sent her fresh blooms. "My dad once sent me a bouquet of flowers after a performance," she recounts with a big smile. "They were the most beautiful rust/gold chrysanthemums. I remember it was autumn then. Now, every autumn I buy the rust/ gold chrysanthemums and think of dad," she says with a faraway look in her eyes as our time together comes to an end. The next minute she seizes the moment to iron out the details of flights to be boarded, awards to be won, public appearances to be made, a citation with the queen, master classes to be conducted and singing contests to be judged – before she sleeps! Farida Master www.keanewzealand.com Photos by John Swannell