Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, a 27 year old soprano and competitor won the Song Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition 2021. On her unique choice of repertoire for the competition, Rangwanasha said, "I wanted to show the audience that they can enjoy both worlds: spirituals, the more standard Lieder repertoire and also my traditional South African Lieder."
The jury absolutely loved her performance, with the judging panel chair John Gilhooly declaring, "Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha performed with such assured technique and emotional power that the jury was unanimous in naming her the winner."
Rangwanasha wins £10,000 and many opportunities to perform across the world.
The finals for main category of the competition will be held on June 19, 2021.
If you have yet to hear Masabane, listen to the video below of her performance of 'Summertime' from Porgy and Bess.
ABOUT MASABANE
Here is a little about Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha in her own words...
"I come from the Limpopo province and started singing at school and church at an early age. I completed my Postgraduate Diploma at the University of Cape Town, studying with Virginia Davids, and took a BTech in Vocal Art (Performance) with Kiewiet Pali at Tshwane University of Technology. While there, I sang Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte) and the soprano solo in Mozart’s Coronation Mass. I was a Young Artist with Cape Town Opera for two years, singing First Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Mother of Mandela (Mandela Trilogy) and Serena (Porgy and Bess). In London, I joined the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme in the 2019/20 Season, performing Guest and Lace Seller (Death in Venice), title role Susanna and Soprano in Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915.
My competition successes include the Audience Prize and two special prizes in the 2019 Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition, winner of the UNISA Competition, First Prize in the Phillip H Moore Music Competition, and First Prize and Best South African Song (final 2017, semi-final 2018) in the ATKV Singing Competition. I was awarded Second prize in the Schock Philips Foundation competition at UCT (2018). In 2019 I sang soprano solo in Verdi‘s Requiem with Oude Libertas choir in Stellenbosch and was nominated Best Singer in the opera category for Woordfees 2019. I was awarded Second Prize in Muzicanto in Cape Town, an award from the Schock Philips Foundation at UCT. In autumn 2021 I will join the ensemble of Bern Staatsoper for two years. In my spare time, I enjoy cycling and playing tennis."
-Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha
BBC CARDIFF SINGER OF THE WORLD
For more information and to watch full episodes of 2021's competition, go to their website below.