Moyake joins 19 of the world’s finest young classical singers who, for one week (11th-18th June), are performing in front of an illustrious jury in Cardiff.

Established in 1983 by BBC Wales, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World was devised to identify the classical singing stars of the future, and the ambition is to deliver the lucky break all artists need to be launched on the road to success. Today it is known throughout the classical music world as the premier showcase for opera and concert singers at the beginning of their careers. Past winners include Karita Mattila, the first winner; Dmitri Hvorostovsky; Anja Harteros; and Nadine Koutcher.

Cape Town Opera Managing Director Michael Williams says: “We are proud that during the seven years that Lukhanyo has been with Cape Town Opera, he has grown into a fully-fledged professional and is well prepared to meet this prestigious opportunity.”

Since joining Cape Town Opera in 2010, Moyake has sung a number of roles with distinction, notably Alfredo in La traviata, Leicester in Maria Stuarda (2015) and Narraboth in Salome (2016). In 2016, he attracted international acclaim when he won the Emmerich Smola Förderpreis in Baden-Baden, Germany and reached the finals of the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition. In the same year, he made his international debut in Portugal, where he sang the role of Don José in Carmen at the Teatro Nacional de Sao Carlos, Lisbon.

Most recently, at the start of 2017, Moyake thrilled local audiences in his role as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto.

Moyake has a busy schedule with Cape Town Opera for the remainder of 2017. Local fans will have the opportunity to hear him sing the role of Steuermann in Der fliegende Holländer, which will be staged at Artscape in August. He has also been cast in leading roles in touring productions of Mandela Trilogy.