2006


Jonathan Lemalu and Sandra Martinovich on their wedding day

Jonathan and his bride Sandra Martinovic

Jonathan & Sandra were married in the ancient walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia on Saturday 19 August.


Jonathan Lemalu and Sandra Martinovic on their wedding day

Jonathan and his bride Sandra Martinovic


Jonathan with Helene Clarke and Sandra Martinovic

With New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke and his fiance Sandra Martinovic

At The Auckland Town Hall during a concert tour with the NZ Symphony Orchestra, under conductor
Matthias Bamert, performing Mahler’s Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. August 2006.

2004

Jonathan at Glyndebourne

At Glyndebourne With Friends

Jonathan and his sister Selena, Gillian Deane and Sandra Martinovic enjoy the Glyndebourne gardens in summer. July 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

Signing Day

Jonathan with Peter Alward (left) and the Hon. Richard Lyttleton of EMI Classics. Many New Zealanders will remember Richard's father, Lord Cobham who was a popular Governor General of New Zealand. July 14, 2004.

Jonathan with Peter Alward
 

Jonathan at EMI

Joining Forces

Jonathan is delighted to sign a three-year, three-disc deal with record company giant EMI. July 14, 2004.

2003
 

Relaxing

Jonathan in front of the opera house. Sydney, Australia.

Fans Travel

Many New Zealand fans including his Mother Tasi and Father Faolima travelled to Australia to see Jonathan perform.

Debut Opera Australia

Jonathan with Opera Australia conductor Simone Young, and New Zealander Teddy Tahu Rhodes after Jonathan's debut at Opera Australia where he played the part of Leporello in the opera Don Giovanni. January 23, 2003

Glyndebourne Opera House

Jonathan makes his debut at Glyndebourne as Neptune in Idomeneo. At one of the performances he had the opportunity to meet the chairman of the Paris Opera and his charming wife. June 2003.
Relaxing at Glyndebourne

Jonathan at Glyndebourne Opera House chatting to Rio Tinto director Paul Skinner. June 2003.
 

Celebrating Schubert

Jonathan is accompanied by consummate pianist Malcolm Martineau at the 2003 Schubertiade festival in Austria. June 2003.

2002

Presentation of Diploma at Graduation

Jonathan receiving his diploma from the famous singer Willard White at the Royal College Graduation.

Graduation!
Royal College of Music

Jonathan also won the College's prestigious gold medal, to be ceremoniously presented to him by the College President, HRH Prince Charles in October.

Teachers celebrate graduation

Singing teachers Honor McKellar (left) and Vera Rosza were there to celebrate with Jonathan as he graduated from the Royal College of Music on
July 5.

Royal Philharmonic
Young Artist Award


Presented by acclaimed Collatura Soprano Dame Joan Sutherland, this award confirms Jonathan's place as one of the emerging musicians of the millenium.
2001
All Blacks & Baritone

A chance to catch up with some other successful New Zealand Samoans, including Michael Jones and Va'aiga Tuigamala (former All Blacks) and Apollo Perelini (former rugby union, now rugby league player). Rugby has always been a passion for Jonathan and he follows it as much as his busy schedule allows.
Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Rosebowl

In recognition of Jonathan's achievements at the Royal College of Music, he was presented with the Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Rosebowl. It was presented to Jonathan by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
2000
Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition

Once in London studying at the Royal College of Music, it didn't take long for Jonathan to impress. Here awarded the overall winner at the Royal Over-Seas League 48th Annual Music Competition - one of about eight major awards won by Jonathan during the year.
Llangollen International Singer 2000

Despite intense competition from 20 singers from around the world, Jonathan manages to come out tops for the judges in the Welsh Llangollen International Singer competition. Singing arias from Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Rossini and Wolf, Jonathan had no idea he would win:
"The standard really was quite freaky, the finalists were from all over the place".
1999
Jonathan Lemalu Benefit Concert

Jonathan's final concert in New Zealand before heading off to study at London's Royal College of Music. The sell-out event, organised to raise living costs for Jonathan while in London, lasted for 3 hours and concluded with a standing ovation and deafening applause for the young singer.
McDonald's Aria Competition

A clean sweep of awards down under as Jonathan takes out Australia's most prestigious opera award - the McDonald's Aria Award. While colleagues were quick to make comparisons to other opera greats, Jonathan remained low key:
"Sure I've done some things in the last couple of years…but in the end for my vocal type, I am still very young".
Graduation

Before singing became his only vocation, Jonathan promised to himself and his family, to complete his studies at the University of Otago in New Zealand. In 1999 it all came to fruition with Jonathan graduating with a Bachelor of Laws. Here he is sharing a quiet drink with his voice teacher Honor McKellar following the graduation ceremony.

"The degree is a good backstop, but for now the dream is to have music at the forefront of my life. I know it's a fairly ruthless world but we'll see what happens."
Jonathan and Sir Ivor RichardsonLegal Privilege

Only just out of law school, Jonathan felt enormously privileged to meet the President of the New Zealand Court of Appeal, Sir Ivor Richardson, at Telecom's farewell function for its outgoing Chief Executive Dr. Roderick Deane.
1998

Mobil Song Quest

Winner of the Mobil Song Quest in 1998. Pictured here acknowledging his mentor, Honor McKellar. Judges praised his beautiful voice and ability to open his heart and let it soar. "For me it doesn’t get any better in New Zealand in terms of competition" said Jonathan of his win.

La Boheme

Jonathan's professional operatic debut for NBR New Zealand Opera's production of Puccini's La Boheme. Playing Colline, Jonathan enjoyed the opportunity to show that his talents are not constrained to a great voice: "It is a lot of hard work, not just vocally, but linguistically, emotionally and physically - and it is a real buzz to pull it off."
Classical Polynesia

Another special moment for Jonathan as he takes on the part of "Father" in the late Iosefa Enari production Classical Polynesia at the New Zealand International Festival. Fusing classical music with the spiritual music of Samoa, to portray the day in the life of a Samoan village, Jonathan found the experience very moving and humbling. Pictured above, Jonathan and Iosefa Enari with the programme cover for the event.
International Concert Series, Salt Lake City

To the United States this time as Jonathan takes up engagements at the International Concert Series in Salt Lake City, and the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC. Pictured with Jonathan here are Iain McKay, New Zealand Consul in Utah, and Iain's wife Heidi.
1997

Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship

Another humbling moment for Jonathan, this time taking out the prestigious Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship.

Pictured here with his Aunty Pise and the judges from the competition.

 

 

1996
Otago Daily Times Aria

"It came as a bit of a shock," said Jonathan of his first place at the Otago Daily Times Aria Contest of 1996. Not to the judges however, who praised his talents: "An enormously good singer - he's got everything in the package that a singer needs"
Not bad for a second year law student, at just 20 years old.
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