Singing has always been her passion, especially classical singing and since her childhood years she had a particular interest in opera music. She has also been playing the piano since the age of 4 and this instrument still remains one of her favourites. Therésa was very fortunate to grow up in an environment where music was, since she could remember, a big part of her life since her father had a great love for music and especially great tenor singers such as Richard Tauber, Enrico Caruso, Benjamin Gigli etc.
She also participated in Eisteddfods since an early age in the singing category and was a member of the East Rand Youth Choir for a period of 4 years. She was also a member of the Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra Choir and was very fortunate to participate in the Mass Choir performance in Pretoria during the inauguration of Pres Nelson Mandela.
Therésa’s first classical singing tutor was Joyce Barker at the Conserve of the University of the Witwatersrand. Barker was one of South Africa’s leading dramatic sopranos and was recognised especially for her interpretations of dramatic Wagner roles. During the early nineties Me Barker sadly passed away. In the meantime Therésa got married and spent the next 12 years raising her two children. In 2006 she revived her love for singing and pursued her training in this field.
She was accepted as a student by the late Prof George van der Spuy, former Head of the Conserve of the University of Stellenbosch. In the same year she sang her final UNISA examination and passed with Distinction. After Prof Van der Spuy passed away, Therésa auditioned with Dr Nellie du Toit in Stellenbosch, who accepted her as a student and under whom she is still furthering her training in classical singing.
During October of 2008, Therésa started recording her first debut CD, “A Dream is a Wish”, which CD was launched on 5 June 2009 in the Strand. This album is a compilation of light classical and contemporary songs. With the launch of this album, she also embarked on her professional singing career. Her CD held the 8th position in a popular music store under the Top 20 best new classically released albums.
Therésa says that she has been very fortunate to have been trained under the biggest names in classical music in South Africa, which training and background has equipped her for her professional career.
Some of her concert performances include a “Therésa & Friends” concert at the ampitheatre of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (Cape Town), fundraiser concert in Grabouw in respect of the ACVV, and a charity concert with Manuel Escorcio in aid of “Meals on Wheels”. She regularly performs at weddings and special events as well as soloist performances with various choirs. She also performs with motivational speaker, Dr S T Potgieter at special functions.
Théresa is also involved in choral training and has had a successful performance with the Gerlinger Kammerchor (Stuttgart, Germany). She has only had the privilege of working with these choirs since February 2011, making their achievements at the Overberg Eisteddfod a milestone for the learners. Theresa has also adjudicated in various Eisteddfods in the vocal and instrumental (piano) categories.
Music is Théresas passion and she has students in the voice and piano categories, beginners to advanced, whom she strives to inspire on their musical journey.
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