Upcoming Performances

  • A poster featuring a keyboard with a G clef with the title "In Return" and text "A performance of original works by Brigid Ursula Bisley with an ensemble of 17 musicians and singers

    Premiere of Brigid Bisley's 'Book of Roses'

    March 2, 2025, 5:00PM

    Whanganui Regional Museum, Whanganui, NZ

    The world premiere of works by composer Brigid Bisley

  • A poster half red with white text and half black and white foggy forest scene featuring the text: "The Octagon Ensemble presents: Echoes from Ngā Hau e Whā: The Four Winds" with works by Rheinberger, Willan, Enya, Fauré, and more

    Echoes from Ngā Hau e Whā: The Four Winds

    March 15, 2025, 7:00PM

    St. Paul’s Cathedral, Ōtepoti Dunedin, NZ

    A vocal octet showcases works from around the world that speak to the beauty of our environment and its degradation at our human hands.

    DOOR SALES ONLY.

  • A memorial plaque with poppies

    The Dunedin RSA Choir's Annual ANZAC Day Concert

    April 25, 2025, 7PM

    Knox Church, Ōtepoti Dunedin, NZ

  • New Zealand Music Month Concert

    May 7, 2025, 1:00PM

    Hanover Hall, Ōtepoti Dunedin, NZ

    The world premiere of Anthony Ritchie’s monodrama “You! Who?” for mezzo and piano with pianist Terence Dennis. Additional works will include songs to text by Katherine Mansfield from Anthony Ritchie and Ross Carey.

  • In Concert with St. Kilda Brass

    May 18, 2025, Time TBD

    Knox Church, Ōtepoti Dunedin, NZ

  • Get Me Off This F***ing Planet

    March 2026 (Dates TBD), 7:00pm

    Playhouse Theatre, Dunedin, NZ

    The world premiere of this interdisciplinary performance art piece by Maddy Parkins-Craig, Sofia Kalogeropoulou, and Tessa Romano will take place in Dunedin Fringe 2025. This work aims to explore our shared humanity within the context of the disturbing emerging trends in the current socio-political landscape both in Aotearoa and the wider world, and the looming tipping point in the fight against climate change. The work cycles through the states of anger, grief, and joy to confront, commiserate and celebrate with its audience in asking: how do we cope with contemporary living in the midst of climate catastrophe and political upheaval? 

Previous Performances

  • Joyeux Noël

    December 6, 2024, 7:30pm

    Knox Church, Dunedin, NZ

    Soloist with City Choir Dunedin alongside Robert Tucker, Cathy Sim, Claire Barton & Alexander McAdams

  • Colleague Collaboration on Folk

    September 25, 2024, 1:00pm

    Hanover Hall, Dunedin, NZ

    A University of Otago Lunchtime Concert featuring Performance Staff performing in Western folk styles

  • A Celebration of Composer John Drummond

    September 15, 2024, 5:00pm

    Hanover Hall, Dunedin, NZ

    A premiere of John Drummond's cycle "Women's Lives" and "The Mezzo Song" with Terence Dennis, piano

  • New Zealand Music Month: A Premiere of David Hamilton's "Canticle 6"

    May 22, 2024, 1:00pm

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

  • New Zealand Music Month: A Premiere of Andrew Perkin's "The Mute Swan"

    May 15, 2024, 1:00pm

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

  • Edvard Grieg on Piano & Voice

    April 24, 2024, 1:00pm

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

    Grieg’s Haugtussa and other selections with pianist Terence Dennis

  • The Trapeze Artist by Anthony Ritchie

    March 17-19, 2024

    Hanover Hall, Dunedin, NZ

    Performed with Opera Otago in the 2024 Dunedin Fringe Festival, Tessa Romano as the lead role “Circus Woman”

  • Celebrate Baroque with the Octagon Ensemble

    October 22, 2023

    St. Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin, NZ

    An Octagon Ensemble performance with violinist Vesa Matti-Leppänen, vioinist Yuka Iguchi, pianist Kemp English, mezzo-soprano Tessa Romano, and pianist Sanaz Rezai

  • Child of the Sun: A Programme of Premieres for Katherine Mansfield

    September 17, 2023

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

    19 new songs by 12 New Zealand composers on the text of Katherine Mansfield with pianist Sherry Grant.

  • Touches of Sweet Harmony with the Octagon Ensemble

    October 8, 2022

    St. Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin, NZ

  • Songs of the Rainbow: Music and Trans* Identity

    September 21, 2022, 1:00pm

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

    A recital of songs by trans* gender composers and poets with mezzo-soprano Tessa Romano and pianist Terence Dennis.

  • Une flûte invisible: Music for flute, voice and piano

    September 7, 2022, 1:00pm

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

    with mezzo-soprano Tessa Romano, flutist Luca Manghi, and pianist Tom McGrath

  • Place Them on the Altar: A Premiere

    June 12 & 13, 2022

    Fort Collins & Boulder, Colorado, USA

    A premiere of the first non-binary cabaret song cycle Place Them on the Altar with music by Siren Wellington and text by Tessa Romano, sung by Tessa Romano with pianist Barbie Noyes

  • Silence Is: An Operatic Preview

    November 6, 2021

    Preview of a new opera by Rosa Elliott, Leon Reynolds, Te Oti Rakena, Tessa Romano & Ruby Solly for Verb Wellington

  • Presenting the Mozart Fellow

    September 22, 2021

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

    A premiere of a song cycle in progress with music by Kenneth Young and poetry by Rushi Vyas for mezzo-soprano Tessa Romano

  • From Bach to Broadway

    August 11, 2021, 1:00pm

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

    with Tessa Romano,Deborah Wai Kapohe, Arlie McCormick Hannah Thompson-Holloway, Rushi Vyas, Helen du Plessis, Terence Dennis & Tom McGrath

  • Spain In View

    July 28, 2021, 1:00pm

    Marama Hall, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ

    Song in Spanish and Sephardic Hebrew from Spain and Latin America, with Tessa Romano and Terence Dennis

  • Songs and Serenades

    July 3 & 4, 2021

    Kings & Queens Auditorium, Dunedin, NZ

    The Dunedin Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vincent Hardaker with soloist Tessa Romano

For Tessa Romano’s full performance history to date, contact them here.