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Tshilidzi Ndou who recently graduated with a BA Music & Society degree from North-West University, has been accepted to continue his studies in September at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas (USA). He is following in the footsteps of his singing lecturer, Dr Conroy Cupido, who also attended this prestigious university.

Tshilidzi Ndou & Dr Conroy Cupido

Tshilidzi Ndou with his singing lecturer, Dr Conroy Cupido, at the graduation ceremony in March.

Tshilidzi was accepted into the Performer’s Diploma which is a very selective programme focusing on developing the talent of young artists whom they regard as having tremendous career potential. In this programme he will have the opportunity to work on his languages and diction, acting skills, technique and musicianship, and he will participate in all their fully staged operas, performed with orchestra.

He also has the wonderful honour of working with Prof Barbara Hill Moore, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Voice at SMU, and she is just as thrilled to be working with him. She met him on several visits to South African when she presented master classes. Besides his academic work, he will also be able to utilise this time in America to audition for opera companies and young artist programmes.

Tshilidzi NdouTshilidzi Ndou completed the BA Music & Society degree in 2017 at North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus under Dr Conroy Cupido. In 2015 he completed the Diploma in Music obtaining a distinction in Singing. He has been a soloist in productions at Aardklop, the KKNK, the Vrye Fees in Bloemfontein, and he was a soloist with the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra in their performances of Mozart’s Requiem. In 2016 he sang the principal role of Count Almaviva in the university’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro. In 2015 he was a finalist in the Amazwi Opera Singing Competition, and in 2018 he was a semi-finalist in the Voices of South Africa Opera Competition. Subsequently, he won an award for the best male opera singer from PUK Arts, NWU. He was a bursary competition winner at NWU in 2014 and 2016, and also a member of PUK Amici for a few years. Tshilidzi is passionate about opera and continues to work towards a career in opera after completing his studies.