Moses Mackay Photo: Walter Hildebrand
Congratulations to Moses Mackay, this year's recipient of the $50,000 Dame Malvina Major Award!
The award is funding Moses’ vocal development as he furthers his career in opera, including auditioning for opera houses in Europe where he is now based.
Moses – who is one third of the Pasifika opera trio Sol3 Mio – was back in Aotearoa at the end of August to take part in Te Papa's annual Spring Soirée fundraiser. He spoke with Three to Seven host Bryan Crump about his debut solo album, Grace, and life with and beyond Sol3 Mio.
Photo: Walter Hildebrand
And about the time when he passed himself off as a cleaner – a cleaner called Maurice.
That was until a case of North African hospitality forced Moses to blow his cover. The only way he could thank his hosts was to sing.
The story is the inspiration behind one of the songs of Moses’ new solo album, Grace, an album inspired in part by his Nana, who died when he was ten.
Born with poor hearing, Moses often found shelter from a bewildering world with his grandmother, but when she died his sense of sound dramatically improved. Moses firmly believes his Nana’s hearing was her parting gift to him.
Music:
Mackay, Moses: Maurice the Cleaner – Moses Mackay (Momoose 2023)
