Deadline: May 29, 2015
The Africa Voices Trust officially opens applications for a
free development programme in Opera - Leadership through Music and Performance
Excellence.
The Africa Voices Trust is a non-profit organisation that
supports the development of highly talented young musicians. Through the Africa
Voices Programme, the Trust identifies and educates future stars across all
musical genres, providing them with the vital skills they need in order to
create financially sustainable and meaningful careers. This intensive programme
is designed to fast-track and elevate local talent to international standards
by providing practical experience and high-level mentorship opportunities.
Selected musicians are guided through a ten month process in
mastering their chosen fields both as a performer and industry professional.
The goal of the programme is not just to teach participants valuable skills;
but to identify and nurture leadership potential, to support their
entrepreneurial spirit and to actively inspire and empower them to take
responsibility for their role as future standard bearers in the growth of the
South African Music Industry. Successful participants work in the largest and best-equipped
studios in the country and receive coaching and support from sound engineers,
mixing engineers, programmers, producers, managers, arrangers, entertainment
lawyers, agents and other industry professionals.
Africa Voices actively nurtures youth entrepreneurship and
emphasises the importance of their participants becoming future leaders and
socially-responsible mentors within their communities for the duration of their
careers. The Africa Voices Trust presents a unique opportunity in developing engaged
leadership through the powerful medium of music.
The 2015 Programme is dedicated to Opera due to the demand
identified in this genre, and is aimed at building upon the knowledge and
experience already gained by dedicated up and coming artists in this field. The
Africa Voices Programme is a “master class” which empowers talented local
artists and will be valuable to both individuals who have gained experiential
skills, as well as individuals who have pursued academic studies in Opera.
Opera is a live performance based genre, and so the
programme will be focused on refining live performance skills as well as
training participants to function as effective, professional artists in this
often high stress and audition-based world. The genre requires of artists to be
able to work in many different environments, and so participants need to be
prepared for a very intense and demanding programme - designed to prepare them
to work anywhere in the world, under the most challenging career conditions
possible.
Selected participants of the 2015 programme will all be
considered for the Caroli Singing Award, an exciting new initiative launched
through an affiliation with the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich. The award
consists of the opportunity to travel to Germany for 10 days in order to
experience the inner workings of an internationally acclaimed opera house and
have the opportunity to audition for the Young Artist Programme of the
Bayerische Staatsoper.
The programme is seeking recommendations of potential participants
that come highly recommended by respected individuals and entities within the
creative industry. The Africa Voices Trust invites you to recommend individuals
that you feel are showing great promise - vocalists you believe in and who have
the potential to develop into a standard-bearer as an artist with the right
guidance and support.
There is no academic requirement to gain entry to the
programme – unlike many other professions, musical talent and potential are not
effectively determined by academic accomplishment alone. However, successful
vocalists must display remarkable musical talent, execution, charisma and
ambition distinguishing them from hundreds of applicants. Selection is not only
based on musical talent - Africa Voices candidates must display creative
energy, a drive to succeed and the courage to hold themselves to the highest
standards.
The Africa Voices Programmes are currently held in Cape
Town. Applications are open to individuals from across the country. However,
individuals not living in the Mother City would need to be prepared to travel
to or relocate to Cape Town for the duration of the programme.
Participation in the programme itself is at no cost to
successful applicants as funds for these expenses are raised by the Africa
Voices Trust.
The Africa Voices team is determined to make a real
difference in the industry and facilitate a significant impact on the lives and
careers of the participants that fall under their care. They commit to building
a legacy of excellence and integrity.
The programme will consist of 8 to 12 young lead singers. All
voice types are welcome.
Prospective candidates will need to be formally nominated by
either a music professional or an educational or other music institution by
means of submitting a recommendation form. Initial selection is made from all
received recommendation forms, upon which selected artists will be contacted to
submit a participant application form as well as a motivational essay. Once all
participant applications have been reviewed, a shortlist of prospective
candidates will be required to attend a live audition and interview in front of
an independent panel of judges.
Refer to the online recommendation form here: https://africavoicestrust.typeform.com/to/CAn4hC
The closing date for recommendations is 29 May 2015.
Should you prefer the recommendation forms to be sent to
your e-mail address, send this request to email: info@africavoices.co.za
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