Opera singer says teacher gave 'her life'
[caption id="attachment_36325" align="alignright" width="405"] MUSICALLY GIFTED: Andiswa Makana, left, has performed alongside the likes of Sibongile Khumalo[/caption]
AFTER last week's La Femme profile on Diaz Primary School art and culture teacher Wilma Brisley-Anthony, former pupil Andiswa Makana – now an opera singer based in Germany – sent a Facebook message praising her influence.
"Wilma's big role in I am an African" told of how Brisley-Anthony nurtured pupils' musical and drama talent for two decades of her career.
"I would love the opportunity of telling the whole world what a huge a role Miss Brisley has played in my life," Makana wrote.
"She is the person who discovered I have a voice, heard me among about 50 kids in her music class. I don't know how, but she did.
"To be honest, Miss Brisley gave me life. She gave me life because singing and music is now my life. She approached me to join the school choir and also encouraged me to enter a talent competition at the school. I entered and won first prize in the juniorsection. I was in Grade 4 at the time.
"Ever since the day she discovered that I have a singing voice, I have never stopped singing – she nurtured my voice.
"She said she remembered how – even on weekends when I would have rehearsals for one concert or another – she would drive into New Brighton to pick me up from home and also take me back again, no matter what time of the night it was.
"I would like to thank her from the bottom of my heart for opening up my future, because she did.
"I have travelled the world through my singing. I have been to France and I even have sang in China.
"Today I am an opera singer and student living in Germany. I was awarded a scholarship to come to Germany and study and work here because a German organisation heard me singing in Pretoria where I was studying.
"All of this has happened because she heard me sing and made it her responsibility to nurture my talent and for that I will forever be indebted to her. She became much more than a teacher to me, she was like a relative, an aunt who genuinely had my best interests at heart," Makana wrote.
While under Brisley-Anthony's wing, Makana was invited to join the Eastern Cape Children's Choir (ECCC) at the age of 10 in 1997. She was with the choir for two years before moving on to the Eastern Cape Youth Choir, scoring solo performances in both choirs.
She has performed a number of roles in operas which include Micaela in Carmen by Bizet, Mimi in Puccini's La Boheme, Gertrude in Hansel und Gretel by Humperdinck, sung the roles of the Second Maiden in Mzilikazi Khumalo's Princess Magogo ka Dinuzulu and Winnie Madikizela Mandela (understudy) in Bongani Ndodana-Breen's opera which premiered in South Africa in 2011.
She has also shared the stage with the legendary, world-renowned musical sensation Sibongile Khumalo.
The 27-year-old opera singer said she had reconnected with Brisley-Anthony on Facebook two weeks ago. "I was so happy to find her and I have so much to tell her."
Makana completed a B-Tech degree in opera studies and vocal art at the Tshwane University of Technology.
She said she was last in Nelson Mandela Bay in October before moving to Cologne, Germany last year.
I am an African which opens tomorrow at the Athenaeum's Little Theatre is already sold out for the Friday show.
For tickets to tomorrow's opening evening, contact Diaz Primary School on (041) 452-1211. - Balisa Ntloko
