Hamilton Soprano Jasmine Jessen Triumphs at Southern Aria Competition

Hamilton-based soprano Jasmine Jessen clinched victory at the 2025 Otago Daily Times Southern Aria competition held at Knox Church on Saturday. Despite facing significant challenges due to a severe cold contracted during a 14-hour flight from Europe, Jessen delivered a remarkable performance that impressed the adjudicator, James Harrison.

Three weeks prior to the competition, Jessen had been performing at the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival in Sicily. Unfortunately, the cold sidelined her for approximately two weeks, impacting her ability to prepare. “It took me out for about two weeks. That’s the last thing you need when you’re trying to project your best voice and enunciation,” Jessen noted. Fortunately, she felt well-prepared by the time of the competition.

During the event, Jessen showcased her vocal abilities with performances of “Ah! Douce Enfant” from Massenet’s opera Cendrillon and “Oh! Quante Volte” from Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi. Jessen expressed her satisfaction with her performances, stating, “I felt like it went really well. The adjudicator said that I performed well all weekend. He was really captured by the emotion in the Bellini, and he said I made the technical aspects of the Massenet sound very easy, but not show-off-y.”

This victory marked a significant milestone for Jessen, as it was her first win in one of New Zealand’s major opera competitions. Over the past five years, she had established herself in the opera community, achieving placements in various competitions, including being the runner-up at last year’s Southern Aria competition and the Auckland aria competition this year. “It feels like quite a big accomplishment. I’ve been working my way up the ladder — it’s been a goal that I’ve been working towards — so it was very satisfying to get this,” she reflected.

Future Aspirations and Support

Jessen recently graduated with a Master of Music in advanced opera studies from the University of Waikato’s Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio. Following her success, she is now looking to further her studies abroad. “I’ll start auditioning for some young artist programmes overseas, probably in Europe, maybe Germany. Winning this competition helps pay a little bit towards that. It costs a lot of money, but, yeah, every little bit helps. This is a great help,” she explained.

Her long-term ambition is to secure a role in one of the prominent European opera houses and perform on their renowned stages. “I think every young singer dreams of that. And this is one of those competitions that helps get people on that path,” Jessen added.

In the competition, the runner-up was soprano Sarah Mileham from Hamilton, while third place went to baritone Samuel McKeever of Hastings. The award for the most promising unplaced singer was awarded to Sarah Hubbard, a Bachelor of Music graduate from the University of Otago.

Jessen’s achievement not only highlights her talent but also underscores the importance of perseverance and dedication in the competitive world of opera. As she continues her journey, her recent win serves as a stepping stone towards fulfilling her aspirations on the international stage.