About Us
Emeritus Professor Nicholas Tarling
Nicholas Tarling, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Auckland, was a world-renowned historian of Southeast Asia and a passionate opera lover. A regular attendee of concerts and operas in Auckland, Sydney and elsewhere, Nick shared his knowledge of musical history through talks on radio and in-person and through programme notes and international study tours. The Nicholas Tarling Charitable Trust provides support to those working in the two areas of his lifelong interest and commitment, the study of Southeast Asian history and music.
Manukau Symphony Orchestra
The Manukau Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is a community orchestra based in South Auckland, New Zealand. The orchestra presents a series of varied concerts annually to patrons from across Auckland at the Due Drop Events Centre (formerly the Vodafone Events Centre), Manukau and Te Tuhi Art Gallery, Pakuranga.
In 2025 with a unique mix of youth, community and professional mentor musicians the orchestra presents the MSO CONCERT series, as well as a number of community concerts and workshops that will enhance the lives and wellbeing of its community, thus creating ‘…a very special spirit’.
The MSO CONCERTS 2025 are held at the Due Drop Events Centre DDEC, Manukau (March/ May/September/ November). These yearly concert series are the main activity of the orchestra with a high public interest.
Through the orchestra’s unique Tuakana Mentorship Programme and youth scholarship initiatives, the MSO is the only symphony orchestra in South Auckland able to present a full range of genres from small ensembles to established orchestral repertoire to 21st-century works at a high standard.
The Manukau Orchestral Society highly values, and thrives on the diversity that its staff, players and audiences bring to the organisation. The MSO strives to reduce discrimination and racism, and increase social inclusion for all ages, genders, the Rainbow Communities, disabilities, national origin, new migrants and any religion.
See the MSO website www.manukausymphony.org.nz for more information.
Official accompanist Rosemary Barnes
Rosemary Barnes studied in London with Franz Reizenstein (Royal Academy of Music) and Lamar Crowson. Her interest in languages led to 28 years in London, working mainly with singers. She was on the music staff of the English National Opera from 1980–88 and taught singers and pianists at the Royal College of Music. She also undertook extensive freelance opera work with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, BBC television, Musica nel Chiostro in Italy, Opera Factory and Opera Northern Ireland, and performed in concert at Wigmore Hall, Usher Hall, South Bank and BBC Radio 3. She was assistant conductor on more than a dozen recordings for Opera Rara (bel canto specialists).
In New Zealand, Rosemary led the Postgraduate Opera Diploma at the University of Auckland from 1993–99. She currently coaches Emerging Artists for NZ Opera and has been the official accompanist at the Gisborne International Music Competition since 1994. Performances include concerts with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, Sir Donald McIntryre, Emil Chudnovsky (violin), Robert Aitken and Leone Buyse (flute), and with the Trio Australasia (Alisa Willis – flute – and Ann Blackburn – oboe) on cruise ships and in Germany. Recordings include three CDs for the Continuum label. Rosemary was made a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to music in the 2000 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Competition Coordinator Sam Girling
Sam Girling grew up in the UK and studied percussion and timpani at Trinity College of Music. He completed his Masters degree in musicology at Royal Holloway (University of London) in 2012 and his PhD at the University of Auckland in 2018, specialising in developments in percussion writing during the early nineteenth century.
In 2021–22 Sam completed a DAAD-funded research fellowship at the Beethoven-Haus Archive in Bonn. He has published several book chapters and articles on his work as well as numerous edited volumes of early nineteenth-century chamber music. He has given pre-concert talks for the APO, an interview for BBC Radio 3, has presented at a number of international music conferences, and also lectures on various music theory and history topics at the University of Auckland. He teaches drum kit at Rosmini College and percussion at Baradene College.
Since early 2023 Sam has been Production & Marketing Manager for Auckland Choral and has recently taken on the role of Competition Coordinator for the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition.
For any questions, comments or feedback relating to the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition please use the following contact information:
Sam Girling, Competition Coordinator
tarlingaria@gmail.com
