Lila Crichton performs in Handel’s Messiah.

Samoan Tenor Lila Junior Crichton studied Classical Performance (Voice) at The New Zealand School of Music under Dr Margaret Medlyn. Lila lives in Wellington but is mostly based in Hawkes Bay, working as an Artist Mentor with the Prima Volta Charitable Trust, which launched his Operatic journey. His work includes teaching performance at Te Whai Hiringa Peterhead School, running the Project Prima Volta Junior Program and being a member of the Project Prima Volta Team, which supports up to 30 Hawkes Bay teenagers each year, to experience the highs and lows of performance, to develop impressive language and musical skills and importantly, to be a supportive team player.

With Festival Opera New Zealand and Project Prima Volta, Lila has performed roles such as Goro in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Beppe in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and the School Master in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen. In 2022, along with his vocal quartet Tokowhā, he presented a nationwide tour representing Chamber Music New Zealand (CMNZ) as a part of the 2022 CMNZ Regional Tour, taking Maori and Pasifika songs around the country. His greatest passion is working alongside Māori and Pasifika youth through programs like Project Prima Volta and a Porirua-based program, the Virtuoso Strings Orchestra.