Inachord Singers Tauranga are proud to invite you to a warm, community‑minded afternoon with Southland soprano treasure Deborah Wai Kapohe. Deborah will share stories from her extensive and varied professional career — a life lived across opera, contemporary Māori music, musical theatre, songwriting, guitar performance, arts leadership, and law.
Bring a cushion (though seats provided!) and your favourite mug to maximise feeling at home, and settle into a relaxed, family‑friendly atmosphere as she opens the door to her creative world with humour, insight, and generosity. Following an intensive workshop the day prior, the afternoon will also feature a small selection of songs from both Deborah Wai Kapohe and Inachord Singers Tauranga, offering a gentle touch of live music to complement the storytelling. With afternoon tea available, free tickets for children under twelve and a portion of proceeds supporting local charities, this gathering promises inspiration, wonder, beauty, and through fellowship, genuine community spirit.
Come for the stories, stay for the songs, leave with connection.
About Deborah Wai Kapohe
Te Ātihaunui‑a‑Pāpārangi, Te Aitanga‑a‑Māhaki, Ngāti Rua (Te Whakatōhea), Ngāti Kahungunu
Deborah Wai Kapohe is one of Aotearoa’s most versatile, accomplished and respected performing artists. Recognised early as New Zealand’s most promising soprano (The Dominion, 2002), she has built an extraordinary international career spanning opera, contemporary Māori music, musical theatre, singer‑songwriting, classical guitar, arts leadership, and law.
Her performance history includes appearances at St James Palace, Buckingham Palace, the Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney and Beijing Olympic Arts Festivals, and national anthems for the All Blacks and Silver Ferns. She has performed for royalty at Huka Lodge, premiered major operatic works across Australasia, and toured widely with her own original music. Her discography includes recordings with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, pianist David Harper, Elena (Shanghai International Arts Festival), and STRIKE, alongside four albums of original singer‑songwriter material.
Deborah’s academic achievements are equally remarkable: M.Mus(Distinction), M.CP, BA, BMus, LRSM (Classical Guitar), LLB(Hons), and admission to the Bar (2021). She continued performing internationally throughout her legal studies, including cultural diplomacy work in Beijing, Hangzhou, Papua New Guinea, and across Aotearoa. Her Masters of Creative Practice explored songwriting tikanga and the integration of taonga pūoro into performance. She has also served as Arts Adviser for Whanganui District Council, developing multi‑disciplinary collaborations and deepening her work with historic guitars and self‑accompanied recital formats.
Her recent engagements span classical, crossover, jazz, and contemporary work, including performances with Christchurch City Choir, Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, Auckland Arts Festival, Orchestra Wellington, Pandemonium, and the All Blacks (Anthem Singer, 2022). In 2023 she appeared as Euridice in NZ Opera and Black Grace’s acclaimed (m)Orpheus, and performed major works by Rutter, Vaughan Williams, and Gareth Farr. Engagements in 2024–2025 include Auckland Arts Festival, At the World’s Edge Festival, Porgy and Bess with Orchestra Wellington, collaborations with Jonathan Lemalu, Benjamin Makisi, Naomi Ferguson, and performances with Opera North, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and events across Aotearoa. She is currently an Artist in Residence at The Piano.