Jamie Frater
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Jamie Frater, born in Naenae (a suburb in Lower Hutt), New Zealand, is an opera singer based in London. In 2005 Frater was second runner up in New Zealand's premiere opera song competition the Lexus Song Quest (previously won by greats such as Dame Kiri Te Kananawa).
Frater, who has studied under Flora Edwards, Margaret Medlyn, and Margaret Kingsley is a recipient of the Opera Waikato Scholarship (New Zealand), the Moyra Todd Foundation Scholarship (New Zealand), and the Madeleine Finden Memorial Trust Scholarship (London).
Jamie Frater was involved in a series of recordings produced by New Zealand's Sirius Opera which are available at most New Zealand libraries or through SOUNZ.
Prior to his career in opera, Frater developed a highly regarded piece of internet software named Bersirc, an Internet Relay Chat Client which gained great popularity and was awarded a five star award in the NetGuide Gold magazine. The software has since been purchased by Nicholas Copeland for further development as an open-source application.
A bass-baritone, Frater is a firm proponent of contemporary classical music. He has performed many world premiere works by new New Zealand composers, including works by Dorothy Buchanan, John Drummond, and Ivan Bootham. A CD of works by American composer Charles Ives is in the planning for 2007.
Frater is also a published composer with his main work "Descent into the Maelstrom" for electrified string quartet being available from the New Zealand National Library.
