Madison Nonoa

“These were huge platforms and incredibly scary prospects at first,” she says. “But both were thrilling experiences and really pushed me as an artist and as a human being.”

This is just one of many milestone moments for the Waikato-born performer, whose list of accolades include the Dame Malvina Major Award, winning the top prize in various Aria competitions across the country, and being selected by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as “Most Promising Singer” in the 2016 Lexus Song Quest. She most recently graduated from the prestigious opera course at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, considered to be one of the top music conservatories in the world.

Prior to all of this, Nonoa studied a Bachelor of Music Honours at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Having grown up in a household full of song and music, she always knew she wanted to be a musician, and says that her time at university prepared her for the international stages she would soon reach.

“The music programme was rigorous and they had high expectations of us, which I benefitted from,” she says. “As a student I felt encouraged and supported, but also pushed to achievemy best results.”

Not long after graduating with first class honours, Nonoa was offered a spot in the 12-person masters course at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Relocating her whole life to the other side of the world in pursuit of her dreams, she says the change wasn’t without its challenges.

“Moving across the world is not always fun and glamorous,” she says. “I’ve dealt with a lot of foreign bureaucracy – immigrating to Europe was a headache and a half – along with the homesickness and feeling too far from home on many days. It’s a tough thing.”

Reflecting on a “challenging, uplifting and mountainous” last few years, Nonoa says “there have been lows – audition rejections, bad reviews, bad performances, difficult work spaces – and there have been extraordinary highs”.

These include performing alongside her aforementioned heroes, while also having the chance to meet people all over the world, some of which have become like family.

“It’s an incredible career in this respect, because it’s all about people,” she says. “People, art and the life that happens when you meet the world in an artistic way.”

And when she’s not singing, Nonoa describes herself as a family girl at heart, and an animal lover. She’s currently living in Greece, where she has started volunteering with local cat rescue organisations.

“I believe as humans we are here to help and care for animals and our beautiful planet,” she says.

Cooking is also a passion, as is learning languages – Nonoa is currently learning Portuguese, French and Greek. All those hobbies, but she is still crystal clear on her life’s mission: “To my core, I am a musician”.

Now adding 40 Under 40 to her list of achievements, Nonoa makes it clear that she is not slowing down anytime soon – in fact, quite the opposite. One of her next big goals is to establish herself as a specialist in baroque singing performance, as well as perform and record bel canto music.

“I have big dreams,” she says. “This is just the start.”