Margaret Medlyn

Margaret Medlyn (born 7 October 1955) is a New Zealand opera singer and voice teacher. First a mezzo-soprano, then a soprano, she performed title roles such as Verdi's Aida and Puccini's Tosca with the Wellington Opera, and appeared as a guest internationally. In 2012, Medlyn was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to opera. Her 2016 dissertation, entitled Embodying Voice: Singing Verdi, singing Wagner from Victoria University of Wellington was published.

Early life and education Medlyn was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, on 7 October 1955, and emigrated with her family to New Zealand in the early 1960s when she was five. She grew up in West Auckland and was educated at Henderson High School. She then returned to New Zealand and performed with the Wellington Opera in roles such as Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Azucena in Verdi's Il trovatore, the title role of Bizet's Carmen, and Floßhilde in Wagner's Das Rheingold. turning to roles such as Musetta in Puccini's La bohème, Verdi's Aida and Puccini's Tosca. Her roles have also included the title role of Salome by R. Strauss, Puccini's Turandot, and Isolde in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. Her 2008 portrayal of the Kostelnicka in Janáček's Jenůfa was considered remarkable.

Medlyn joined the New Zealand School of Music in 2007, and was head of voice at Victoria University of Wellington. She has also taught at the New Zealand Opera School. She is a national recording artist for Radio New Zealand, recording a number of recitals and releasing four CDs.

Honours and awards In the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, Medlyn was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to opera.

Publications Burning Bright featuring the work of four New Zealand women composers, Kiwi Pacific label (1999) In a strange land: the songs of Richard Fuchs, for Rollover Productions (2011) From Garden to Grave Jenny Macleod's settings of text by Katherine Mansfield, Waiteate Music Press (2011) Sojourn, Cages for the Wind, Stephan Prock’s setting of poems by Alistair Te Ariki Campbell