(018) 299-1692 [email protected]

Instrument(s) / Discipline(s):
Voice, Piano, Choir Conducting.

Period of study at the NWU School of Music / PU for CHE Department of Music:
1994-1999 & 2002-2004.

Qualifications completed at the NWU / PU for CHE:
BMus, HED, Hons BEd.

Qualifications completed elsewhere:
UNISA Performer’s Licentiate.

Notable professional achievements:
• I was at the very young age of 26 Head of Music at a private school in Botswana and from there I was always very lucky to get the HoD positions.
• In 2004 I was Head of Expressive Arts at Westwood International School, working with the renowned SA artist, Erica Hibbert.
• In June 2015 I will be going to the Juilliard Performing Arts School in New York to participate in master classes and workshops for Nord Anglia Education.

Laura Opperman

In Salzburg.

Current professional position / occupation:
Expressive Arts Coordinator – Compass International School, Al Khor – Qatar.

Top 5 must-hear music:
1. Bach — Cello Suit No. 1, Prelude by Yo-Yo Ma
2. O mio babbino caro by Kiri Te Kanawa
3. Aandblom is ‘n Witblom by Erica Eloff
4. I Want You Bach by The Piano Guys
5. I Got Rhythm by Ella Fitzgerald

Which personal music experiences are most memorable to you?
• When we lived in India (Pune, 2006) I went to a concert of a tour group from the USA and they invited me to perform impromptu “Voi Che Sapete” from Figaro.
• I performed for the Royal Family Sheik Mohamed Al Thani of Qatar at the Diplomatic Club in 2011. I received a Prada bag as a thank you gesture.
• This year my school choir went to a mass choir performance and I was the soloist singing “Adiemus” from Karl Jenkins in front of an audience of 2000 people.

Laura Opperman

At a performance as ensemble in Qatar.

Top 5 must-read books:
1. Bidsprinkaan by André P Brink
2. Maria Callas: An Intimate Biography by Anne Edwards
3. Toorbos by Dalene Matthee
4. Long Walk to Freedeom by Nelson Mandela
5. Goodbye, Mr Chips by James Hilton

Favourite quote(s):
“The only thing better than singing is more singing.” — Ella Fitzgerald

Top 5 must-see movies:
1. Amadeus (1984)
2. Amadeus (1984)
3. Amadeus (1984)
4. Home
5. The Gods Must Be Crazy

Which television show(s) can you watch over and over again?
Boston Legal

Favourite food:
Chocolate in any form.

Favourite drink(s):
Cabernet Sauvignon

How do you relax?
Reading a book, having a glass of red wine and the smell of the Arabic night.

Family (spouse/children):
Married to Chris Opperman, one son — Chris Daniel Opperman.

Laura Opperman

With my son, Chris Daniel.

Which places would you still like to visit?
If travel was for free, you would never see me … Tanzania, Kenya, Russia, Japan, Mexico, and many more …

What are your funniest / fondest memories of your time at the Conservatory?
The times we worked on the opera with Prof Werner Nel. We would spend hours in the hall: Erica Eloff, Ernst Labuschagne, Adda Mutai, Michael Dingaan and me trying to please Prof Nel, who was not easy to please 🙂