Durban bass baritone Thami Zungu will appear in a performance of Handel’s Messiah to take place in the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton on April 16 (Easter Sunday).

Having studied with Colleen Philp at the KwaZulu-Natal University, he continued his studies at Indiana University in 1994 where he studied with Martina Arroyo. Two years later he was admitted to The Juilliard School in New York. Whilst there, he appeared as a guest artist for a number of opera houses in America. As a concert artist he has sung recitals in Oslo, New Jersey (US) and in South Africa. He has performed as soloist in a number of Oratorios: Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart Requiem and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. He has received numerous awards, including 3rd prize in Lucia Albanese Puccini Foundation competition in New York and in the Zacchary Foundation Competition; 1st prize in The New York Art Club Competition.

Also appearing will be Angela Kerrison who appeared in the Playhouse Company’s Bravo! Opera in 2005.

This year the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra will be conducted by Richard Cock.