Jonathan Fa'afetai Lemalu is a New Zealand bass baritone opera singer. Born to Samoan parents who had emigrated to New Zealand, he was educated in Dunedin. He studied both Law and Music at the University of Otago, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws. 

Jonathan Lemalu has spent the last 5 months preparing an exciting and innovative project, in association with New Zealand's Arts Foundation and Boosted – Aotearoa’s only crowdfunding platform dedicated for the arts.   

In the absence of more than 8 months of opera work cancelled due to COVID-19, Jonathan created his own work opportunity.

 'Before And After Summer' is a series of 4 biographical episodes detailing his musical journey from a 10yr old Dunedin chorister to a Grammy award winning operatic bass on the international stage, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With 17 specifically chosen songs and arias as well as interviews and Q&A, personally scripted and recently recorded in London, Jon has created more than 2 hours of rare, unique insight and candid commentary into his journey in words and song. 

You can listen to Jon's recent RNZ interview with Standing Room Only which captures the essence of this project.

The 4 part series will be screened on Boosted LIVE over the next month on Jon's Boosted crowdfunding page, which launched on Monday 9 November. During each of the four consecutive weeks his crowdfunding page is live, the relevant episode will be available to watch – the first launching this Friday 13 November. 

For these episodes and his campaign, Jon is crowdfunding to raise an initial target of $20,000 NZD. As Boosted is an all-or-nothing platform, he needs to reach this full total by Thursday 10 December to receive the funds, otherwise all donations will be immediately refunded. In his words, it is both exciting and nerving at the same time - a surprisingly similar adrenalin rush to singing in the theatres and opera houses of the world!

Jonathan Lemalu's Boosted page is here - https://boosted.org.nz/projects/before-and-after-summer.