South African Wins International Opera Singing Competition

Congratulations to Levy Sekgapane, a young tenor from South Africa, who has scooped first place in the Belvedere Opera Competition, the most prestigious and largest singing competition for young opera singers in the world!

The finals of the 34th International Hans Gabor Belvedere Opera contest were held on Saturday night, 4 July 2015, at Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam.

The jury consisted of artistic and casting directors from renowned opera houses such as the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London and Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Levy, who grew up in Kroonstad and studied opera at the University of Cape Town (UCT), was overcome with emotion upon being announced as the winner in the competition that’s known as the “springboard” for young opera singers into a career in opera.

With qualifying rounds held in 63 cities around the world, this is a major achievement for Levy, as well as fellow talented South Africans Khanyiso Gwenxane, Caroline Modiba, Noluvuyiso Vuvu Mpofu and Lukhanyo Mzondi Moyake who took part in the finals.

After arriving back in Cape Town on Monday, one of the first messages Levy received on his Facebook page was from Caroline saying “I’m proud of all of you for the little offers we got afterwards and I’m proud of you Levy for bringing this home, you were absolutely amazing.”

A South African fan, Nelmari Reyneke, who now lives in Taiwan and watched the competition on TV, said “I would like us to celebrate the four South Africans that represented our country in Amsterdam of which the very talented Levy Sekgapane WON!!!! Being in Taiwan and watching him perform and win made my chest swell and my eyes well up! So, so proud!”

Levy – who is also a pianist and conductor – has won 7,000 euros in the competition. Second prize went to Lisa Davidsen, a soprano from Norway, and third to Ki Hun Park, a tenor from South Korea.

It’s quite fitting that a South African has won, as the next Belvedere will be held on 2 July 2016 in Cape Town at the South African College of Music, UCT. This will be the first time in the Competition’s history that the final rounds are held outside of Europe.

UPDATE: After reading the flood of congratulatory messages that have poured in for Levy on SAPeople’s FB page, Levy says: “Thank you so much. I’m humbled. Don’t know what to say really… 🙂 ”

To further support Levy Sekgapane, please follow him on Facebook here.

Watch Video – Finals of the Belvedere Opera Competition

https://youtu.be/OyC2cBWbTcw