Nonhlanhla Yende

Nonhlanhla is a a well known Mezzo Soprano with Cape Town Opera who has taken many Leaps of Faith and overcome obstacles to live her dream. Ever since she was little girl singing was in her blood, and it was clear from an early age that she had a special singing voice. Her family were poor and whilst her single mom went out to work, she was raised by her grandma who helped develop her talent & love of singing. In her teens and early twenties she sang with the church choir and then discovered opera. Even though she was sent to Pretoria to study business,  the pull to opera was too strong and Nonie enrolled at Pretoria Technikon to study it. She was shattered when finances prevented her from continuing and then had to support herself by washing and ironing people’s clothes while pursuing every avenue she could to get more opera training and experience.

Nonhlanhla’s greatest Leap has been leaving her young child Zama and husband Unathi in Pretoria to pursue a golden opportunity to train and perform with Cape Town Opera.