Singing me to you

Abstract

This article is concerned with the noticeable increase in musicians from previously disadvantaged communities (population groups who were previously disenfranchised) in South Africa who are studying, researching and performing Western art music. Because of the apparent discrepancy between the cultural and social contexts from which the musicians and the music originate, the article briefly considers the relationship between music, context and culture. African musicians’ interest in Western art music should not be attributed to Western art music only now being discovered by these communities, but rather to an increase in opportunities for these musicians to formally study and research this music. This article specifically examines the rise in the involvement of African singers in opera. It provides an overview of the reasons for this rise and points out some of the challenges facing voice lecturers at tertiary institutions. Finally, the article gives some feedback on how students who had been part of the North-South-South Project experienced this opportunity to study abroad.