Sarah Mileham, the Winner of the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024 has recently been busy playing the role of Maria Bertram in NZ Opera’s production of Mansfield Park, an opera by Jonathan Dove based on the Jane Austen novel. Sarah took some time to answer a few questions for us about her background, her career, and her future aspirations.

Tell us a little bit about your background. How did your passion for music begin and when did you know you wanted to study opera?

Kia ora. My name is Sarah Mileham and I’m a 21-year-old soprano of Korean, British and New Zealand decent. Growing up in Tairua and Cambridge, I was always singing and dancing to anyone that would watch. After moving to Tauranga for schooling, my love for classical music was born through involvement in choirs, orchestra, and school musicals (specifically West Side Story). From there, I decided to pursue further education and fell in love with Opera after watching the dress rehearsal of The Marriage of Figaro put on by NZ Opera in 2021. 

Why did you decide to apply for the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition?

I had heard about the competition through friends that had competed the year before! They said it was a great competition that was made accessible to everyone in the country by making the preliminary rounds video entries. In 2023, I had just started to put myself into competitions around NZ, and the Nicholas Tarling Aria seemed like a good step. I thought that I’d throw my name in the hat by sending in some videos and I was delighted to find out I’d been invited to the Final Round!

What do you think is the most important thing to consider when participating in an aria / singing competition?

Sometimes it can feel strange to sing in such a confronting and inherently vulnerable situation, but I think the thing that always helps me is getting deeply rooted in the story you’re trying to tell. Once you get away from being yourself in a room of people who are comparing and analysing what you’re doing, you can find yourself as a girl singing to her father, asking him to let her marry her true love. When you are able to lose yourself in the character and story, which also comes from many hours of practice and familiarity, the worries of competition can fade away.

What projects are you currently working on?

Most recently, I had the pleasure of singing as Adina from Donizetti’s Elixir of Love for NZ Operas Schools tour. I also made my principal debut as Maria Bertram in Jonathan Dove’s opera Mansfield Park for NZ Opera.

I am looking forward to singing in the chorus of NZ Opera’s Le comte Ory by Rossini and I’ll end my year by singing the role of Countess Ceprano in NZ Opera’s Rigoletto by Verdi. Additionally, I am currently studying towards my Honours in Music at Waikato University under the tutelage of soprano Anna Leese.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

A wonderful teacher of mine once said: “The sound is in you, all you need to do is want to share it.” I often feel as though singing can become such a big, complicated thing. So, when I feel flustered and overwhelmed, I try to think back to the gift that music can be and ultimately the only thing we need to do is give it.

What is the hardest thing about being an opera singer?

The dreaded imposter syndrome! I feel as though a part of being an opera singer is always trying to be better. And in the pursuit of getting as close to perfection as one can get, it’s easy to become self-critical. At least for me, that always leads to feeling a bit strange when good things are happening, and I get positive feedback and results! But this is remedied by having lovely friends and peers that help build each other up.

If you could perform a lead role in one opera that you’ve never performed before, what would it be?

If I was to think of what I’d like to sing at this stage, I’d love to sing the roles of Liu from Puccini’s Turandot, or either of Mozart’s Susanna from The Marriage of Figaro or Ilia from Idomeneo. In the future, my dream roles would include Mimi from Puccini’s La boheme, the title role in Madam Butterfly, and of course Violetta from Verdi’s La Traviata.

Is there a dream opera venue you would like to perform in one day?

I think I’ll aim high and say all the iconic spots! The Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera House, and the Sydney Opera House. Pretty much a classic opera singer bingo.

What are your goals and plans for the future?

I am hoping to do an additional 1–2 years of study and prep in NZ before heading overseas to either Europe or America. My goal is to find a teacher that can give me the best foundation for beginning a working career. Until then, I’d like to spend my time in NZ performing and competing as much as possible.

Which aria(s) are you planning on singing in the Nicholas Tarling Winner’s Concert in  June and what aspects of performing with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra are you looking forward to most?

I will be singing the well-known O mio babbino caro from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Gianni Schicchi. There may be other things in the works but until then it’s a surprise!

To hear Sarah in action at the Manukau Symphony Orchestra’s Family concert at the Due Drop Events Centre Manukau on Sunday 16 June at 5.00pm visit  https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2024/mso-family-concert-2024/auckland/manukau-city and buy your tickets today!