Jonathan Fa'afetai Lemalu

Destined for a profession given to dramatic entrances, Jonathan displayed this tendency from the outset. Suffering a hole in the heart when born in 1976 at Queen Mary Hospital in Dunedin, New Zealand, Jonathan nearly didn't make it at all.

Aptly christened Fa'afetai (Samoan for "thank you") Jonathan (means "gift of God") by his loving parents Lemalu Nanai Foalima and Ali'itasi, Jonathan took to music at a young age becoming a boy soprano under the expert direction of Dr Raymond White in Dunedin at the tender age of nine.

Of course, growing up in New Zealand meant that music occasionally had to play second fiddle to other pursuits like rugby, soccer and scouts; while faith and family also proved to be prominent in his upbringing (as they still are today).

Jonathan was educated at Mornington Playcentre, Mornington Primary School, Kenmure Intermediate School, and Otago Boys' High School before studying both Law and Music at the University of Otago where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1999. For him this achievement was even more satisfying than winning the Mobil Song Quest in 1998 because he really had to work at juggling studies with music.

On one occasion Jonathan recalls having to sit a terms paper at the airport having just returned from a choral tour in Sydney: "A fellow singer sat with me, eating all my food and making sure I didn't cheat!"

Determined as he was to finish his academic degree before going on to pursue his musical career, such challenges were not unusual.

It was clear that Jonathan was destined to be a bass-baritone rather than a barrister following a five year musical tutelage under Honor McKellar, QSM. During Jonathan's time with Honor, his achievements included winning the Otago Daily Times Aria Contest (1996), and Mobil Song Quest (1998), and making his professional opera debut as Colline (La Bohème, 1998), and winning the Sydney McDonalds Aria (1999).

Jonathan completed his post-graduate studies at London's Royal College of Music in 2002, where he was taught by famed teacher Madame Vera Rozsa. He was thrilled to receive the College's prestigous gold medal, presented to him by the College President, HRH Prince Charles.