Specialisation: Bass Soloist
Biography
Emmanuel Maqoma, a distinguished bass soloist, was born in the vibrant township of Mdantsane, East London. His musical journey began at a tender age, singing in church and participating in school competitions as a soloist. At just 13 years old, Emmanuel joined the adult choir, Mdantsane Voices of Joy, where he faced challenges due to his young age, as most competitions required participants to be older. Despite these obstacles, he honed his talent under the mentorship of Mr. Gxabhashe, the choir’s conductor.
Emmanuel’s potential was recognized by Sidwell Mhlongo, who recruited him to join the Gauteng Choristers. There, he emerged as one of their prominent bass soloists, performing in numerous competitions such as GACMA, NCF, Melting Pot, and Sidibeng. He also participated in significant works with the Gauteng Choristers, including Mozart’s Requiem and Ushaka KaSenzangakhona, where he had the honor of performing alongside the legendary Mama Sibongile Khumalo in 2015.
Later that year, Emmanuel joined Gauteng Opera (Black Tie), where he played the role of Mr. Marchese in their full opera production of La Traviata and performed various arias in concerts. His career continued to flourish when he auditioned for Cape Town Opera in 2018, where he toured across South Africa, conducting SASCE workshops in 2019 and 2020. He was also part of the cast for Porgy and Bess at Cape Town Opera, which was scheduled to be performed in Vienna, Austria.
Emmanuel’s talent has been recognized on numerous occasions. He was a finalist in the Amazwi Omzansi Solo Singing Competition in 2015, where he received masterclasses from renowned musicians such as Kamal Khan. More recently, he was part of the COMFESA Gauteng Symposium, receiving a masterclass from renowned vocal coach, Professor Santisa Viljoen.
Repertoire
Arias:
- O Isis und Osiris by Mozart
- In diesen heil’gen Hallen by Mozart
- Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni by Bellini
- La calunnia by Rossini
- Now Heaven in fullest glory shone by Haydn
- Various African arias by different composers
Ensembles:
- Excerpts from Così fan tutte and The Magic Flute by Mozart
Upcoming Appearances
Emmanuel Maqoma will grace the stage at the upcoming Black Tie Opera Gala Event — “A Night to Remember” delivering powerful performances that highlight his deep, resonant bass and his extensive experience in both classical and African repertoire.