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After ending in second place in the classical category of Unisa’s sixth annual International Voice Competition, Thembinkosi Magagula went on to win no fewer than three prizes at the Voices of South Africa International Opera Singing Competition at the end of February.
The prizes that she won at this event are the Les Azuriales Opera Festival Prize, the Graham Rogoff Memorial Audience Prize (where the winner is decided by the audience) and The Most Promising Young Singer Prize.
Palesa Malieloa, a former student of Dr Conroy Cupido, won the third prize in the renowned Unisa International Voice Competition. “It was my first international competition. It was an amazing experience to be part of it.”
Opera alumni excel in competition
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Thembinkosi Magagula, a former student of Dr Santisa Viljoen, was the runner-up in Unisa’s International Voice Competition. She was also chosen to be one of 64 finalists out of 312 candidates to participate in the Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels. This competition takes place in May this year. (Photos: UNISA Music Foundation’s Facebook page.)
Palesa Malieloa won the third prize in the competition. “It laid a good a foundation for me and I plan to compete in more competitions of this nature.” Palesa will leave for Germany in April to complete her master’s degree at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in Cologne. (Photos: UNISA Music Foundation’s Facebook page.)
The NWU’s School of Music is where exceptional talent is nurtured and developed. Thembinkosi Magagula and Palesa Malieloa proved that when they showcased their extraordinary singing talent in the classical category of Unisa’s sixth annual International Voice Competition. Thembinkosi was the runner up and Palesa took third prize. Another NWU alumna, Nombuso Ndlandla, also made us proud by ending as a semi-finalist.
The competition, which was held from 23 January to 3 February, offered classical and jazz vocalists of all nationalities the opportunity to exhibit their talents. It featured local entries as well as singers from France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, among others.
It was the first time that all three finalists of the classical category were South Africans. Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha of the University of Cape Town won the first prize. The prize money was R200 000 for the overall winner and R130 000 and R80 000 for the second and third prizes.
The competition is highly regarded and is a registered member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions.
Dr Conroy Cupido, senior lecturer at the School of Music, says they are very proud of the high standard of teaching at the voice department. “Our students are able to successfully compete on national and international levels. We have seen many of our alumni reaching incredible heights in their careers, becoming part of international opera houses and gracing stages all over the world.”
He says the staff at the School of Music are delighted with the achievements of Thembinkosi, Palesa and Nombuso during the competition.
“I am grateful for the wonderful education I got at the NWU and the great teachers at the university who helped develop my singing talents,” says Thembinkosi. “I could not have chosen a better institution for my undergraduate studies. I am where I am today because of the NWU.”
Click on the arrow below to listen to Thembinkosi. (Wait a few seconds for the sound clip to open.)
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Maestros nominated for Fiëstas
The School of Music was also honoured with a nomination in the Best Achievement in Classical Music category of this year’s KykNet Fiësta Awards. The award ceremony took place on 8 February.
Antoinette Olivier, Dr Conroy Cupido, and Dr Santisa Viljoen were nominated after their vocal students put up a spectacular performance in a production entitled RSG Dis Opera, at last year’s Aardklop Festival.
