Growing up with a dad who loves opera, Danielle knew the music she loved even before she’d put a name to it. She decided to pursue opera as a career and now holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance from the University of Cape Town, but says that many people are still surprised to learn that she’s an opera singer when they meet her. A mezzo soprano, she counts among her career highlights the opportunity to travel far and wide with Cape Town Opera: she’s been part of overseas productions of Porgy & Bess, as well as the African Angels tour and Mandela Trilogy. Most of all, she delighted in singing words written by Desmond Tutu himself at the ceremony to mark his award of the Templeton Prize in 2013.