The 6th Unisa International Voice
Competition ended on a historical note with French vocalist Cynthia Abraham
announced as the first winner of the Jazz Voice Category and Cecilia
Rangwanasha, who was the first South African classical singer to win a Unisa
International Voice Competition.
The event literally ended on a high note
with three sopranos competing in the final round on February 3, 2018, in the ZK
Matthews Great Hall. The Johannesburg Festival Orchestra conducted by Maestro
Vito Clemente from Italy accompanied them.
The final round in the Jazz Category took
place on February 2.. Each winner takes home R200,000.
In the Jazz Category the second prize were
awarded to local vocalist Tshepo Tshabalala and the third prize to the British
vocalist Ellie Bignall. They won R130,000 and R80,000.
South African sopranos Thembinkosi Magagula
and Palesa Malieloa won second and third prize in the Classical Category.
Special prizes were awarded to America
vocalist Tahira Clayton and soprano Frances du Plessis for the best
semi-finalists who did not go through to the final round.
Two special prizes were also awarded to
Cynthia, a Parisian from French/Gaudeloupe descent. She visited South Africa as
an 18-year old, performing at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival as part of
a French big band.
The special prize for the best performance
of a South African composition in the Classical Category was awarded to
Thembinkosi Magagula.
The best second round performance in the
Classical Category was awarded to Cecilia Rangwanasha. She is a student of
Virginia Davis and a studio member of Cape Town Opera.
The event was particularly successful from
a South African perspective. The panel of international adjudicators, all with
impressive biographies, voted four South Africans into the final round. Only
Cynthia Abraham and Ellie Bignall were not from South Africa. This was once
again affirmation of the tremendous talent and dedication of South African
vocalists.
Famous South African singers who have been
finalists in Unisa International Voice Competitions include Raoul Beukes, Johan
Botha, Kobie van Rensburg and André Howard.
Celebrated singer Sibongile Khumalo was the
only South African on the panel of adjudicators.
The classical competitors received
excellent support from South African pianists Albie van Schalkwyk, Elna van der
Merwe, Susan Steenkamp-Swanepoel and Laetitia Orlandi. Jazz pianists John
Fresk, Roland Moses and Bokani Dyer were the accompanists in the Jazz Category.
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