Tongan Counter-tenor Samuel Mataele Wins Historic Grand Final at Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest

A 19-year-old Tongan counter-tenor has claimed the top prize at New Zealand’s most prestigious opera competition, marking several historic milestones for the event. Samuel Mataele was named the winner of the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest following a grand final gala at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Saturday, 11 July 2026. Mataele’s victory comes with a $50,000 first prize and cements his place in the competition's 70-year history as the first counter-tenor to ever win. He also becomes the youngest male singer to take out the title. Accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Mataele competed against five other finalists in a performance he described to RNZ Pacific as an intense experience that required immense concentration. While his age has drawn significant attention, Mataele told RNZ Pacific he hopes to be recognized primarily for his artistry. The counter-tenor voice, the highest male classical range, is equivalent to that of a female mezzo-soprano or contralto. Mataele first discovered his passion for the genre through the works of Bach and credits his sister as a major role model in his musical journey. The win is a significant moment for the Tongan community and the wider Pacific diaspora. Mataele joins fellow Tongan singer Filipe Manu as a Song Quest champion, noting that he shares the pride of this achievement with his people. He attributed the success of Pacific singers in opera to strong oral traditions, suggesting that the cultural foundation of storytelling through song and dance provides a natural advantage when approaching Western operatic styles. The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest is widely regarded as a pinnacle of classical vocal achievement in Aotearoa, having helped launch the international careers of many renowned performers.