HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - RIDGE PONINI

COOK ISLANDS
OPERA SINGER

Please introduce yourself, your Pacific heritage and what you do.

My name is Ridge Ponini. I am a tenor from the Cook Islands. I was born and bred in Rarotonga, from the village of Nikao. I am an up and coming opera singer and I'll soon be heading to London to further my studies at the National Opera Studio.

What village are you from in Rarotonga and how did that upbringing shape you?

I come from Nikao in Rarotonga. I feel incredibly grateful to have grown up in the Cook Islands because everybody is so supportive of each other. Community is everything. Through that upbringing I developed values of family, faith, service, culture and community. Those values have shaped me into the person I am today.

People always say you can't do things on your own, and I really believe that. You leave your village behind you wherever you go. I'm lucky to have a great village behind me that still supports me today.

Your journey into opera started in a pretty unexpected way. Can you tell us that story?

It really happened in the spur of the moment. I was outside my English teacher Brenda Rudolph's classroom, playing around with my voice and singing with friends. She called us inside and asked us to sing for her. We sang a rendition of Hallelujah and by the end she was in tears.

She told me, "You're going to be an opera singer."

My first response was, "What the hell is an opera singer?"

I had never heard of opera before.

She started showing me famous singers and eventually showed me Pacific singers who looked like me. That's when I realised opera was for everybody.

Without telling me, she sent a video of me singing to the University of Otago. They became interested and Professor Judy Bellingham travelled to Rarotonga to hear me sing in person.

Professor Judy Bellingham later became my singing teacher at the University of Otago and has had a huge impact on my journey. From the very beginning she believed in me, encouraged me and helped me develop as a singer. I wouldn't be where I am today without her support and guidance.

That visit led to an opportunity to study in Dunedin, and from there everything started to snowball.

Can you tell me about Auckland Opera Studio?

I joined Auckland Opera Studio at a point in my career when I felt a bit stuck. Frances Wilson became my teacher and mentor, and the amount of support the Studio provides is incredible.

The Studio gives singers opportunities to perform, gain experience and refine their craft in front of real audiences. It feels like an introduction to a professional career because it provides so many of the experiences you need to develop as an artist.

How has the Opera Studio helped your journey?

The Studio has helped me access opportunities, networking and professional experiences that have shaped my career. They provide coaching, support and performance opportunities that help singers continue developing.

Opera is a demanding career, especially financially, and Auckland Opera Studio helps ease some of those pressures through scholarships, coaching support and opportunities. I'm honestly so grateful for everything they've done for me.

How has your Cook Islands heritage influenced the way you perform or connect to music?

My Cook Islands heritage is the heart of everything I do. Without my culture and identity, I wouldn't be the performer I am today.

In Cook Islands culture we tell stories through performance, emotion and song. Opera is no different. My heritage keeps me grounded and reminds me where I've come from. It's my "why". It's what makes me unique and gives purpose to what I do.

What was it like leaving Rarotonga and stepping into the classical music world in Aotearoa?

It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I left home at 19 and I was the first in my family to leave. I'd always done new things with my family beside me, but this time I had to do it on my own.

Moving to Dunedin was a huge culture shock. I felt very homesick and very far away from home. I didn't know how to read music when I arrived and I felt like I was behind everyone else.

What helped me was reconnecting with my culture. I helped establish a Cook Islands student community at the University of Otago so others wouldn't feel as isolated as I did.

Looking back, it was one of the toughest periods of my life, but it taught me resilience.

You've performed on some big stages already. What's been a standout moment for you so far?

For me, performing with an orchestra is always special.

Feeling that huge sound behind you and having all those musicians supporting you is an indescribable feeling. It excites every part of you. Every time I perform with an orchestra I feel at home. It's a reminder of why I do what I do.

Being selected for the National Opera Studio in London is huge. What does that opportunity mean to you?

It's an incredible opportunity and one I'm deeply grateful for.

Coming from Rarotonga and being the first person from home to follow this pathway, it means a lot to represent my family, community and the Cook Islands on an international stage. It's another step in a journey that started with a teacher believing in me before I believed in myself.

How do you stay grounded while stepping into these global spaces?

I always go back to my values. My faith, my culture, my family, my community and knowing where I've come from.

Those things remind me why I started this journey in the first place. Knowing my identity keeps me grounded and gives me purpose.

You've performed for thousands of tamariki. Why is it important for you to share opera with young people?

Opera is often performed on big stages that can feel far removed from everyday life. Taking it into schools brings it directly to young people.

It's a chance to expose students to the arts and show them opportunities they may never have considered. Whether that's opera, acting, music or performance, it opens doors.

I love helping young people see that opera isn't something distant or intimidating. It can be fun, accessible and inspiring.

What do you hope young people in the Cook Islands see when they see you doing this?

I hope they see that opportunities like this are possible for them too.

Growing up, I never saw anyone from the Cook Islands doing opera. Representation matters. If a young person sees someone who looks like them achieving something they never thought was possible, maybe they'll feel inspired to give their own dream a go.

What advice would you give to Pacific youth who feel like their dreams don't "fit" where they come from?

Some dreams don't come with a clear path. In fact, if the path feels uncertain, that's often the path worth following.

If there's something that burns in your heart and feels right for you, follow it. That's what I did. I took a leap and trusted the journey.

Block out the noise, block out the haters and do what makes you happy. You never know where it might take you.

What are you most looking forward to about performing at the Auckland Opera Studio 2026 Opera Gala on 28 June?

I'm really excited to perform new repertoire with the orchestra and to work alongside my colleagues. We're all great friends and we've worked together before, so it's always special sharing the stage.

Most of all, I'm excited to show audiences what I've been working on and experience that incredible feeling of performing with a full orchestra behind me. It's going to be a fantastic night.

WANT TO SUPPORT?

Cook Islands tenor Ridge Ponini will perform at the Auckland Opera Studio 2026 Opera Gala at Auckland Town Hall on Sunday 28 June. Presented by Auckland Opera Studio, the Manukau Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Choral Society, the gala is a full-scale evening of opera featuring some of Aotearoa's finest emerging singers alongside orchestra and choir.