Our Youth Development and Education (YDE) department is very proud to announce the formation of their Foundation Studio. The Foundation Studio aims to give high school learners without a music literacy background the skills needed to enrol for a music course at university, thus bridging the gap between themselves and subject music pupils. The programme will cultivate good singing habits from a young age and help learners reach their potential. The pilot programme is launching with weekly voice lessons for two high school learners. Over time the team hope to build up not only the number of learners but also to expand the programme to include music theory as well as keyboard lessons. The Foundation Studio project has been a dream of YDE Manager Madré Loubser since she started working in YDE in 2017. Our two learners, both of whom started their lessons last week with our Acting Artistic Director Lize Thomas, are Siyasanga Memani (mezzo-soprano) from Joe Slovo Secondary School, Khayelitsha, and Iviwe Boms (tenor) from Fezeka Secondary School, Gugulethu. Says Lize: “Meeting young singers who enjoy hearing their own voices produce beautiful singing sounds is an enormous privilege. Working with them to discover their own potential is so rewarding: their eyes shine and their joy when a high note comes out well is unmistakable.” Welcome Siya and Iviwe, and all the best from the Cape Town Opera team! |