Siphiwo - A Life in Opera

Siphiwo Ntshebe was born in 1974 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, known today as Nelson Mandela Bay. His earliest musical experience was the classical music and opera that he heard when his mother was carrying him. From the age of 5 years Siphiwo sat on his father’s knee and would sing to the guests visiting his parent’s home. Later Siphiwo was greatly influenced by his grandfather who was a Reverend in the church in the Eastern Cape.

As he grew up Siphiwo would perform in the small operas and musical plays that his father wrote for the local church. In spite of a clear gift in music Siphiwo was not offered the opportunity to develop his musical talent until his early teenage years. At that time he started to sing in the school choirs and also studied acting and drama.

At the age of 16 Siphiwo had his first Italian Grand operatic experience performing with an orchestra in Port Elizabeth. His talent was spotted and he was offered a scholarship on the choral programme at the University in Cape Town. He was then offered a scholarship to study in Brisbane, Australia in the Young Artists Programme and was endorsed by the South African Minster for Arts & Culture.

In 2004 Siphiwo was awarded a scholarship on the Postgraduate course to study at The Royal College of Music in London. He completed his studies at the RCM in 2007.

Since Siphiwo has been in the UK he has been performing widely throughout Europe for both private and public engagements.

Below is a recent Thank you letter that Siphiwo recieved from Nelson Mandela:

"Dear Siphiwo

Please allow me to thank you for your recent performance at our event in Monaco. We appreciate your efforts and we were very proud to show the world a young South African with so much talent that has, despite challenges of the past, chosen to work hard at a better future.

You made us proud with your performance.

We wish you well with your endeavours and hope to see you again in the not so distant future.

Yours sincerely

N R Mandela"