Voice of Black Opera Competition returns to Birmingham

The Voice of Black Opera Competition will this month return to Birmingham and, will be held biannually from this year. The semi-finals on 24 and 25 November will see 12 singers compete to be one of five to progress to the competition final on 5 December.

Finalists will be aiming to win the Sir Willard White Trophy, which offers a cash prize of £10,000, as well as a concert opportunity with the Welsh National Opera (WNO) Orchestra and coaching from Welsh National Opera (WNO). They will also be competing for the Samuel Coleridge Taylor Award of £5,000, which will also include three performances with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) of new work from Daniel Kidane.

Scottish Indian bass-baritone, Neil Balfour, who is one of the finalists, said: ‘For me, the VOBO Awards are a beacon. A beacon that shines a light on quality and equality. I am energised and honoured to be a part of this award.’

Balfour was chosen via video auditions open to Black and South Asian singers from Commonwealth countries. He will be competing with 11 other finalists:

• Natasha Agarwal - soprano (British Indian)
• Rachel Duckett - soprano (British)
• Chantelle Grant - mezzo-soprano (Canadian)
• Christian Joel – tenor (Trinidadian)
• Thando Mjandana - tenor (South African)
• Yolisa Ngwexana - soprano (South African)
• John Onosolease - baritone (Nigerian)
• Isabelle Peters - soprano (British)
• Samkelisiwe Sitshinga - soprano (South African)
• Shanice Skinner - soprano (Canadian)
• Suzanne Taffot - soprano (Canadian-Cameroonian)

The singers chosen to compete at the final will be accompanied by the WNO Orchestra, conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren and will perform at least one contemporary work by a Black or South Asian composer as well as a duet with a leading opera singer. Students of Birmingham City University Schools of Jeweller, Fashion & Textiles will create a garment and jewellery for each finalist’s performance.

Finalists will be judged by a panel led by tenor and composer Tom Randle which will include general director of WNO, Aidan Lang; BCMG artistic director Stephan Meier; tonore and vocal coach Jean Ronald La Fond; composer Philip Herbert; critic Rupert Christiansen and composer and conductor Odaline de la Martinez.

Organised by Black British Classical Foundation (BBCF) in collaboration with WNO, the first Voice of Black Opera competition was held in 2008 to showcase emerging Black and South Asian opera singers

Vincent Osborne, founder and artistic director of the foundation, said: ‘BBCF works to demystify opera, to add more colours to the wide tapestry of British culture. It is still relevant and needed today to be a beacon for others that do not conform to stereotypical notions of an opera singer, to see that there is a road map that others have trod and they too can follow. To make sure that those from diverse backgrounds know that they too can be part of the magical world of make-believe of opera today.’