#Conroy Cupido

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Adjudicators Announced for UNISA National Voice Competition

Lyrical soprano Erica Eloff, the previous winner of the Unisa National Voice Competition. Credit Sussie Ahlburg.

Some of South Africa’s best voice teachers have confirmed their availability to serve on the panel of the Second Unisa National Voice Competition taking place this winter at Unisa in Pretoria.

The competition will feature two categories: Jazz and Classical. The jazz vocalists will be adjudicated by Debbie Mari, Nthabiseng Motsepe, Mageshen Naidoo, Nicky Schrire and Amanda Tiffin. The classical vocalists will be adjudicated by Lize Coetzer, Conroy Cupido, Hanli Stapela, Hanna van Niekerk and Thami Zungu.

More than R250 000 worth of prizes will be awarded. The competition is being made possible by a grant from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and additional support from Unisa.

Classical vocalists will compete on 8 and 10 July in Round 1 and Round 2 respectively. The Jazz Category will commence with Round 1 on 9 July and continue with Round 2 on 11 July.

All competitors will perform in both the first rounds. After the second round the semi-finalists will be announced.  The semi-final round will also be divided into two days. The classical finalists will perform on Wednesday 12 July and the jazz finalists on Thursday 13 July.

Only four vocalists will be chosen to perform in the final round – two per category.

ZK Matthews Great Hall

The requirements for the competition are extremely high and to be admitted to the competition is already an achievement. Competitors must be able to perform four live rounds, all with different songs. Furthermore, in the final round their ability to perform with a rhythm section (Jazz Category) and full orchestra (Classical Category) will be tested.

Lovers of vocal music can look forward to a variety of some of the best loved vocal repertoire: From coloratura arias such as Glitter and be Gay by Bernstein to famous jazz standards such as Ellington’s Caravan are on the programme.

More information about the competitors will be available closer to the event.

Tickets for Rounds 1 to 3 will be sold at the door. Final round tickets will be sold at Computicket

Adjudicators Announced for UNISA National Voice Competition was originally published on Artsvark

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#GetToKnow | Conroy Cupido

In association with Concerts SA, South African baritone Conroy Cupido and British pianist Yoon Chung will be performing pieces by Franz Schubert in recital during a tour across four venues in three South African provinces.

The goal of this collaboration is to promote the art song genre through the country, building audiences and also providing master classes to younger singers and pianists. These master classes will be presented at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

Introducing the collaboration, Dr. Cupido says: "Yoon Chung and I first performed together in Dallas, Texas over 10 years ago. He is a phenomenal pianist who combines passion, bravura and sensitivity; ideal when collaborating with singers."

Following the spirit of the schubertiades (events held to celebrate the music of Franz Schubert), the programme of their joint recital of piano and voice will exclusively feature works by Schubert, namely Four Impromptus D.899, excerpts from Die Schöne Müllerin, Piano Sonata D. 958, and selected pieces from Schwanengesang.

Dr. Cupido adds that "Schubert is often regarded as the cornerstone of the Lied genre. His music has the ability to transfer the texts of poets such as Goethe, Rellstab, Heine, Müller and Seidl to a visceral musical world. He mastered the art of text-painting through melody, rhythm and harmony, equally in the voice and piano, making the music almost tangible to both performer and listener."

Conroy Cupido holds degrees from Stellenbosch University, Southern Methodist University and a Doctorate in Music from The University of North Texas. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Voice at North West University. He has performed nationally and internationally with opera companies, orchestras and in concerts. He has adjudicated for SAMRO on various occasions for their national and overseas competitions/scholarships.

Pianist Yoon Chung has performed throughout Europe, Japan, Korea and the United States. In the UK, he has appeared in prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall, the South Bank Centre, Kings Place, St. John’s Smith Square, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Bridgewater Hall, St. James’s Piccadilly, and Waterfront Hall. His performances have been broadcast in the UK, France, the United States, Japan and Korea.