Iosefa Enari

Iosefa Enari (1954 – 22 October 2000) was a New Zealand opera singer who was born in Samoa. The Iosefa Enari Memorial Award, presented annually by Creative New Zealand, recognises Enari's pioneering contribution to Pacific Islands opera. Enari was the Artistic Director of Classical Polynesia, the first New Zealand opera combining traditional Samoan words and music with classical opera.Classical Polynesia premiered at the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts 1998 in Wellington, and featured Jonathan Lemalu.

Enari was born in Samoa and moved to Auckland at the age of 16 with his seven brothers and sisters. Although Enari had been singing since Sunday school and in a school rock band, his career as a professional did not start until he won the Herald Aria Competition in 1987. He later performed in New Zealand opera productions alongside notable opera singers such as Dame Malvina Major. In 1993, Enari was the recipient of a New Zealand Fulbright cultural grant which allowed him to study opera in the United States. In 1996, Creative New Zealand awarded him the Senior Pacific Artist Award. Creative New Zealand later created the Iosefa Enari Memorial Award in his honour.

In 2000, Enari died in New Caledonia while he was attending the Festival of Pacific Arts with a delegation of New Zealand artists. He was given a moving farewell by Maori, Pacific Islands and Kanak artists.

The Iosefa Enari Memorial Award is given annually by Creative New Zealand to support the career development of individual Pacific singers across all classical vocal genres and career stages.

Enari was the Artistic Director and creator of Classical Polynesia, an operatic work of Samoan songs and music rearranged to opera by Samoan-born New Zealand composer Igelese Ete. In 1998, Classical Polynesia premiered at the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts at the Illot Concert Chamber, Wellington Town Hall. A second performance, aimed at the Pacific Islands community, was held in Cannons Creek, Porirua with an introduction by Oscar Kightley. The choreographer was Cook Islander Teokotai Paitai and the producer Makerita Urale.

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