Pretty Yende: A Journey from Small Town to Opera World

by
1 min read
pretty yende opera

Pretty Yende’s story is an inspiring tale of perseverance and talent. Growing up in a small town in South Africa, Yende discovered her passion for singing at a young age.

Pivotal Time at UCT Opera School

At 16, she auditioned for the UCT Opera Studio but did not initially meet the admission requirements. However, the head of vocal studies Virginia Davids and Emeritus Professor Angelo Gobbato recognized her exceptional talent and potential and offered her a place in the UCT Opera School.

Newsletter

Stay Informed • Cape Town

Get breaking news, events, and local stories delivered to your inbox daily. All the news that matters in under 5 minutes.

Join 10,000+ readers
No spam, unsubscribe anytime

Yende’s time at UCT proved to be a turning point in her career. She received rigorous training in vocal performance, stagecraft, and musical theory, and had opportunities to perform in productions and competitions that helped refine her artistry.

Pursuing Her Dream

After graduating from UCT, Yende won a bursary to study at the opera school at La Scala in Milan, Italy. She had the chance to perform with some of the world’s most renowned singers and conductors, further honing her skills and gaining valuable experience.

In 2013, Yende made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, receiving critical acclaim for her performance in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory. She has since performed at leading opera houses in Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg, and Paris, receiving numerous awards and accolades for her performances.

Humble and Passionate Advocate

Despite her success, Yende remains humble and grateful for the opportunities she has been given. She is also a passionate advocate for music education and supporting young musicians. She has worked with organizations like the South African National Youth Orchestra and the South African Music Performance Rights Association to nurture the talent of the next generation of musicians.

Transformative Power of Education

Pretty Yende’s journey from UCT to the world’s most prestigious stages is a testament to the transformative power of education and nurturing young talent. As Yende continues to amaze audiences worldwide, UCT can be proud to have played a role in shaping the career of one of the world’s most celebrated sopranos.

Tags:

You might be interested in

Amanda Wilson is a Cape Town-born journalist who covers the city’s evolving food scene for national and international outlets, tracing stories from Bo-Kaap spice shops to Khayelitsha micro-breweries. Raised on her grandmother’s Karoo lamb potjie and weekend hikes up Lion’s Head, she brings equal parts palate and pride to every assignment. Colleagues know her for the quiet warmth that turns interviews into friendships and fact-checks into shared laughter.

View all

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

running age
Previous Story

Running Beyond Age: The Inspiring Story of Ouma Annatjie Berntzen

gauteng department of roads
Next Story

Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport Addresses Payment Delays Experienced by Putco Bus Company

Latest from Blog

kidnapping mall security

**Saturday Shock: How Ten Seconds at Vangate Mall Exposed a National Kidnap Machine**

One Saturday morning, a little girl was almost snatched from a mall in South Africa! Luckily, her parents and some quickthinking shoppers stopped the kidnappers. This scary event showed how big and organized the child kidnapping problem is there. These bad guys target young children in busy places, using clever tricks and technology. The incident sparked outrage and exposed how malls often aren’t ready for such attacks. Now, people are looking for new ways, both hightech and simple, to protect kids from this terrible trade.

Cape Town property market luxury real estate

Cape Town’s Billion-Dollar Coast: How Twelve Months Rewrote the Property Record Books

Cape Town’s fancy houses are selling like hotcakes! Rich people can work from anywhere now, so they’re moving to beautiful Cape Town. Foreigners love the good exchange rate, making homes a steal for them. There’s also not much empty land left, and the city has better water and power. This makes Cape Town a super popular place for luxury living, with prices going way up!

Cape Town N2 Highway

**Cape Town’s N2 Nightmare: The Wall That Divides More Than Traffic**

Cape Town’s N2 highway became a battleground, with constant attacks on drivers. To fight this, the city is building a huge concrete wall, almost 3 meters tall and over 9 kilometers long, with hightech cameras and lights. This R330 million “fortress” aims to scare off criminals and keep people safe. But some wonder if this giant wall can really stop smart criminals, or if they’ll just find new ways to cause trouble. It’s a costly gamble, hoping concrete and cameras can solve a deeprooted problem.

Cape Town Pretty Woman Musical

From VHS to Footlights: Pretty Woman Reborn in Cape Town

Get ready, Cape Town! “Pretty Woman: The Musical” is coming, but with a vibrant local twist. Imagine the classic love story, but now Vivian Ward is played by a talented local, Leah Mari, and the music pulses with awesome African rhythms like mbira. The fancy Broadway sets are swapped for clever lights and a reflective stage that makes Vivian’s journey even more powerful. Even the story’s dialogue is changed to feel more like South Africa, with Edward gutting a wine empire instead of a shipyard. This isn’t just a show; it’s a new fairytale that sparks conversations and even helps local students, showing that this beloved story can shine even brighter in a new home.