Alumna Emma Gavenda (B.A., music, ‘10) recently appeared in New Zealand Opera’s world premiere of Ihitai ‘Avei’a – Star Navigator. It was performed in concert by the Manukau Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Choral and the Graduate Choir New Zealand. Gavenda was a chorister in presentation, which featured Amitai Pati, one of the 2016 Rising Stars of Opera at UC Davis Robert and Magrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

Composed by Tim Finn with text by Célestine Hitiura Vaite, the piece tells the story of Tupaia (sung by Pati), the Tahitian star navigator who sailed with James Cook on the maiden voyage of the Endeavour in 1769.