Biography

Shiddharth (Sid) Chand, a tenor of New Zealand Fijian-Indian heritage, has quickly emerged as a distinguished figure in the classical music realm. Most recently, he performed the role of Candide in Leonard Bernstein's Candide, directed by Frederic Wake-Walker and conducted by Edwin Outwater, with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) Opera. In 2024, Sid was accepted as a Manetti Shrem Opera Program Fellow, performed at the Festival Napa Valley, and covered the role of Pedrillo in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Shiddharth has showcased his versatility and artistry with compelling role debuts as Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Ferrando in Mozart’s Così fan tutte under the baton of Curt Pajer, as well as Miles in Mazzoli’s Proving Up, conducted by Steven Osgood.

Demonstrating his commitment to performing contemporary compositions, Shiddharth premiered Alexander Cowdell's evocative work A Place of Quiet with the Auckland Youth Orchestra, a performance later recorded and published by SOUNZ Aotearoa. He also mesmerized audiences with Benjamin Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings alongside the NCMA Chamber Orchestra in Nelson, earning acclaim for his "transcendently beautiful" rendition (Nelson Mail).

Shiddharth's remarkable talent has garnered recognition in prestigious competitions, securing First Place in the inaugural Auckland Opera Studio Aria Scholarship Competition and earning finalist positions in the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition and the Lockwood New Zealand Aria Competition, where he was honored with the John Bond Award for Most Promising Voice.

Shiddharth is proudly supported by the Dame Kiri te Kanawa Foundation, Circle100 Foundation, New Zealand Opera Foundation Trust, and Mardell Cosgrove Trust.

Images: Mazolli “Proving Up” (2024) Matthew Washburn