By Zuko Komisa
Point of View with Phemelo Motene was recently joined by acclaimed South African Jazz singer Tutu Puoane where she spoke about her career, and the wonderful memories she’s made along the way.
She began her professional career in 1997 after she earned a diploma in music performance while studying with Jelena Reveshin at the University of Cape Town.
In 2002, she was awarded a two-year scholarship to study with Rachel Gould at The Hague Conservatory of Music and Dance in the Netherlands.
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She has given spectacular performances across the world in places like Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, RSA, Italy, Germany, and the United States.
LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE:
On the importance of classical voice training
“I recommend classical training and I tell all young singers that if you get a chance to get a classically trained opera singer to train you, do it. Classical training of the voice is the best, I don’t know any other form of training that comes close.
They teach you how the body works, and how the instrument inside your body works.”
On why she enjoys connecting with people
“I really find that I enjoy that, I really like connecting first with the people, not just as this person or singer they are about to see. As a human being just to look at their eyes, to say thank you for being here, life is expensive and people make choices.
I realised in my last tour, that I ilike watchinng people as they enter and having a little glimpse of them. It really gifts me tthis feeling that people came here, they worked hard all week, and that I reallly need to giftt them the very best I can.
Tutu has received awards in a number of significant South African jazz contests, including the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters for Cape Region in 2000, the Daimler Chrysler South African Jazz Competition (2001), and the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year Award for Music in 2004.
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