Possessed of a fine lyric soprano voice, Malvina Major grew up in Hamilton, singing in country and western and other musical events from the age of two. She studied under Dame Sister Mary Leo, and in 1964 won the Mobil Song Quest and Melbourne Sun Aria contest, which enabled her to go to London to develop her career. She won acclaim, but after two years forsook the international stage to return to live on a Taranaki dairy farm and raise a family. Her love of singing led her to perform in New Zealand whenever she could, in both local and national venues, raising thousands of dollars for hospices, cancer research, and other charities. She also taught music and fostered the talents of young children.

In 1982 Malvina Major returned to the international opera scene, with an appointment to the Belgian National Opera. She sang in many European opera houses, as well as in New York and Australia, discovering new depths in her art. After her husband’s sudden death in 1990, there was another hiatus in her career as she coped with that great grief, but she returned to perform with her life experience and maturity enriching her glorious voice. She was recognised as one of the world’s greatest sopranos, yet she was also generous in support of community charities and a fine mentor for young musicians. In 1992 she established a foundation to promote education through awards and provide training for young New Zealanders in the performing arts. Her warmth of personality and profound musicianship provided a standard for other performers.