Soprano Madeleine Pierard is the the inaugural Dame Malvina Major Chair in Opera at the University of Waikato.
The position has been funded by Hamilton’s Sir William and Lady Judi Gallagher to honour the career and contributions of Dame Malvina.
Madeleine has recently returned to New Zealand after many years living and working in the UK.
She spoke with Upbeat about the new role, and what it's been like for opera singers in the UK over the past couple of years, and what she brings to the new role.