Kirsten Simpson has received a number of grants from the Foundation – the first in 2005 which enabled her to attend the prestigious Solti Accademia di Bel Canto in Italy. This also marked the first co-operative grant, the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation joining with the Dame Malvina Major Foundation to jointly provide funding to enable Kirsten to complete the final term of her four-year course at the Royal College of Music.

Kirsten graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Solo and Ensemble performance and an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Piano Accompaniment, receiving two distinctions.  In 1998 she won the Young Performer of the Year Award and in 2001 was a finalist in the National Concerto Competition, as well as being named a concerto finalist for the Royal College of Music Concert Competition.