Proud Cook Island tenor 28-year-old Ridge Ponini completed his Honours degree in Music at the University of Otago, majoring in classical voice performance under the tuition of Judy Bellingham. In 2021, Ridge was awarded the Enari Iosefa Opera Award from Creative New Zealand. Ridge was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Lexus Song Quest 2022 and was a Studio Artist with New Zealand Opera in 2023.

He was also part of New Zealand Opera’s Schools tour cast, performing ‘Sleeping Beauty’ for over 10,000 tamariki in New Zealand. Ridge has been selected to attend the New Zealand Opera School for four consecutive years and was awarded ‘The Spirit of the School’ and the Freemasons Foundation and New Zealand Opera School runner-up award in 2024. Ridge is currently completing his studies toward a Masters degree as a member of the Tanzos programme.