Introduced to opera by a man sharing his name – the late, acclaimed baritone Simphiwe Mayeki – this Simphiwe knew from first listen that he loved the genre. The singer later joined Cape Town Opera’s choral programme, becoming part of favourite productions like the African Angels tour, and has earned a Performer’s Diploma in Classical Music. Among his best-loved composers are Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti, Mozart and Wagner, while his taste in music also extends to numerous genres: in his free time he can be found listening to jazz or gospel music, and also appreciates reading the Bible.