Opera singer (24) wants to pursue her singing career on international level

A 24-year-old, who obtained her BMus (Hons) at the University of Pretoria at the end of last year, has been accepted to pursue her music master’s degree in vocal performance in the United States.

Montaigne Campher has been singing since her primary school years.

It is her dream to pursue a career in opera.

Her previous singing teachers include Isabella Eksteen (who obtained her master’s degree from Berkeley School of music in California in 1998) and Deidré Blignaut-Rautenbach.

Montaigne studied classical voice under the tutelage of Dr Hanli Sapela between 2019 and 2021. Since the start of 2022, Montaigne has furthered her study of opera and the voice and an instrument under the guidance of Tinus and Marina Spies.

Marina has a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Pretoria while Tinus recently completed his doctoral studies. Both are lecturers of classical voice, opera and stagecraft at various secondary and tertiary level education institutions.

Campher has been accepted at Missouri State University in Springfield, as well as Longy School of Music of Bard College in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Both these master’s programmes will commence between August and September of this year. She is still awaiting word about additional funding before she will be able to finalise her choice of institution.

At the end of last year, Dr Trebot Berry approached her to help her with her preparation.

Berry was a medical practitioner for over 50 years. He attended Pretoria Boys High.

He plays various musical instruments including piano, accordion, clarinet and the banjo. He also enjoys using oil paint, watercolour and pastels to create visual artworks.

“He has an absolute passion for music and visual art and it is a huge privilege to have him as a mentor,” said Campher.

Berry’s father, Cecil was a bank manager at the time when Mimi Coertse (South African soprano) needed a loan to go to Europe.

Also read: Coertse vier nog ‘n lewensjaar in styl

Campher will sing three Afrikaans poems set to music (3 Liedere by Cecil Berry: AG Visser, CM van der Linde and DF Malherbre) during a Father’s Day concert hosted by Barry at his home in Rivieria in the Moot.

“I am hoping to raise enough funds during the concert to enable me to do my master’s of Music. I have a love for classical singing and to further my studies on an international level,” she said.

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