Sanele Mwelase

Sanele Mwelase

1997

Countertenor

Roles Performed

2022 Ruggiero, Alcina (G. F. Händel), Cape Town Opera, Cape Town, South Africa

2021 Tamerlano, Tamerlano (G. F. Händel), University of Cape Town, South Africa

2021 Nerone, L'incoronazione di Poppea (C. Monteverdi), University of Cape Town, South Africa

2018 Rinaldo, Rinaldo (G. F. Händel), University of Cape Town, South Africa  

Future Engagements

2024 Ali, Ali, La Monnaie, Bruxelles, Belgium

Education

2021-22 Postgraduate Diploma In Opera Performance, University Of Cape Town, South Africa

2017-20 Bachelor of Music in Opera Performance, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Competitions and Awards

2023 41st International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition

2023 Final Round Participant, Hibla Gerzmava International Singing Competition

2022 Final Round Participant, NEUE STIMMEN Competition, Gütersloh, Germany

2021 1st Prize, Marker and Pioneer International Singing Competition Online

2020 2nd Prize, 19th Schock Foundation Singing Competition,Cape Town, South Africa   

2020 2nd Prize, Voices of South Africa National Singing Competition Online, South Africa

 

Stand: 2023

Who is your greatest vocal/musical role model?

My greatest musical or vocal role models have to be Maria Callas and Shirley Verrett. Why Maria Callas? I learnt and I am still learning about the importance of telling a story through different colours of the voice and that the beauty of music and telling a story comes through listening to what the composers intended to do with their music. This is because all the emotions and dramatic effects are laid in the music by a composer(s). Moving along to Ms Shirley Verrett, I have got to experience the power, beauty, and characterisation by watching some of the roles that she sang such as Lady MacBeth and Amneris by Giuseppe Verdi. All of my role models (by watching them on social media videos) emphasise the importance of being vulnerable when it comes to expressing the beauty of all the emotions that roles had compel them to. It always opens a gate of me wanting to be vulnerable with my emotions, and looking forward to a story telling while I am performing.

Are you currently learning something new?

Not at the moment, normally our institution issues our roles and performance schedule at the begining of our Academic year in February.

Attend a Party or Host a Party?

None