A charitable trust based at 3 Glenside Crescent in Eden Terrace, Auckland, the Auckland Opera Studio was founded in 2002 by pianist and vocal coach Frances Wilson and her husband Stephen Fitzgerald, who came back to Auckland after years of work in New York. It gives young and emerging singers tuition and performance opportunities, and it supports established artists as they prepare for roles. Singers are invited to join the studio based on their potential, commitment and readiness for the next stage, and the studio says it offers mentoring and a focus on performance. Its calendar includes picnic concerts, recitals and opera galas, which the studio says give audiences a way to hear its artists up close.
The studio's annual Opera Gala Concert, presented with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Choral at Auckland Town Hall, was set for Sunday 28 June 2026 at 5pm. Auckland Opera Studio is sustained by donors, subscribers and arts supporters. Enquiries can be sent through the form on the studio's website.