In 2016 Nonoa won third place in the 2016
Lexus Song Quest and was awarded the $15,000 Kiri Te Kanawa scholarship for most promising singer. She was selected as an Emerging Artist with
New Zealand Opera and made her professional debut in the role of
Papagena in the 2016 production of
The Magic Flute. The same year she created the role of Joyce in the world premiere of the Ross Harris chamber opera
Brass Poppies at the
New Zealand Festival. In 2017 Nonoa moved to England and studied opera at the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under
Yvonne Kenny. She was supported by the Jerwood Young Artists as a member of the
Glyndebourne Festival Opera chorus. In 2020 she was appearing in concert at Glynebourne with
Emma Kerr and two other chorus members. Recent engagements include Papagena
Die Zauberflote at Glyndebourne, a participation at Snape Maltings with Simon Keenlyside and Malcolm Martineau as part of the Momentum Scheme, Despina Cosi fan tutte and Tytania
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The 21-22 season includes the role of Maria
Westside Story for Opera du Rhin as well as a performance of Couperin’s
Trois Leçons de Ténèbres for the King’s Consort. In 2024 Nonoa portrayed Galatea in the first staging in France of
Nicola Porpora's
Polifemo with the
Opera National du Rhin. She acknowledges the ongoing support of the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Malvina Major Foundations. == References ==