Makudupanyane Senaoana

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Makudupanyane Senaoana is currently a student at the South African college of music. He is studying voice under the guidance of Hanna van Niekerk and Prof. Kamal Khan. In his early schooling years he attended the world renowned Drakensberg Boys’ Choir school where he was taught the art of classical music.

He was was the 1st Prize winner of the Rialto/Olitalia competition, open to all University Cape Town students. In 2014, he was a finalist of the Paris opera competition and a semi-finalist in the Houston Grand Opera competition. Senaoana has also been awarded both “SAMRO” and the “Apollo Trust” Bursaries (South African music awards).

As a student, he has performed with Cape Town Opera and The South African College of Music and professionally with artists / organisations such as soul singer LIRA, Bryn Terfel, The Cape Philharmonic orchestra and The Wagner Society of South Africa. At the Glimmerglass festival in 2012, he performed the main stage role of Absalom Kumalo: Weill’s “Lost in the Stars” and covered Le Chevalier Danois: J.B Lully’s “Armide”.

His opera roles include: Tom Rakewell:“The Rake’s Progress”, Count Almaviva: “The barber of Seville”, Don Ottavio in “Don Giovanni”, Nathanael in “The tales of Hoffmann”, Gugliemo:“Viva la mamma”, the Tenor: Handel’s “Messiah” and scenes as Tamino:“The magic flute”. Belfiore: “Il viaggio a Reims” and Man with the old luggage: “Postcard from Morocco”.

In masterclasses, Senaoana has had guidance from greats of opera such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Neil Shicoff, George Shirley, Ana Maria Martinez, Eric Owens and Dolora Zajick.

In 2013, he was selected as one of eight talented young artist and invited to Huston Grand Opera for their exclusive young artist academy. Along with his musical achievements, Senaoana is also part of a documentary entitled 'I Live To Sing'. The documentary has been aired in the U.S., on PBS, South Africa’s SABC, the Independent News station, Democracy NOW!, as well as CNN. In March 2014, the documentary was screened at the American Documentary Film Festival and Film Fund’s opening night attraction.

He has toured countries such as North America, France, Spain, England and Canada.