Bel Canto Boot Camp

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Bel Canto Boot Camp

A place to share, a place to support.

Founded in March 2020, Bel Canto Boot Camp provides an online community for singers and lovers of singers alike - a place to learn, a place to listen, a place to be heard.

19/10/2026

🇿🇦 INTRODUCING THE 25 FOUNDING ARTISTS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN VOCAL TRAINING INSTITUTE! 🎶

We went to South Africa looking for 12–15 promising young singers. We found 25 extraordinary artists—and we knew we had to make room for them all!

From 3–10 January 2027, these 25 singers will gather in Stellenbosch for the inaugural South African Vocal Training Institute (SAVTI), an intensive week of specialised training in classical singing, bringing together South African and international faculty to explore the art of the acoustic, unamplified voice.

Presented by Bel Canto Boot Camp in partnership with Mandela Bay Opera and Stellenbosch University, this new initiative is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of South African vocal artists and strengthening the connections between singers, teachers, and musical communities.

🌟 MEET OUR 25 FOUNDING ARTISTS!
Erin Beck, soprano
Banele Bhengu, tenor
Aphiwe Dlamini, baritone
Mathembaonke Duntywa, soprano
Minenhle Goba, soprano
Sinalo Gxabala, tenor
Carla Heydenreych, soprano
Khumo Holland, baritone
Daniel Hughes, tenor
Simnikiwe Isaacs, soprano
Lutholwethu Kom, baritone
Chloë Loggenberg, mezzo-soprano
Nhlakanipho Mboto, tenor
Abulele Mhlaba, tenor
Samukelo Mhlongo, baritone
Mongezi Mosoaka, tenor
Mlondolozi Mthethwa, tenor
Lutho Ndamase, tenor
Mihle Njovane, soprano
Lilitha Nkuku, mezzo-soprano
Zola Ntsento, baritone
Daniel Pheeha, baritone
Sinesipho Tokwe, soprano
Thuto Tsotetsi, tenor
Oyama Vena, tenor

These artists represent an exciting breadth of talent from across South Africa. Over the coming weeks, we'll introduce you to their individual voices, stories, and aspirations.

Our inaugural institute will culminate in a public concert on 9 January 2027, celebrating their artistry and the beginning of what we hope will become a lasting tradition of musical education and collaboration.

Please join us in welcoming our Founding Artists! 🇿🇦👏

18/10/2026

A message from Tersia Jonck, Rachelle’s amazing mom in South Africa. She has already proven herself to be a mighty fundraiser at age 85! Scroll down for Afrikaans and check out the comments to hear her school choir sing.

“I am so excited to be part of BCBC’s fundraising campaign for the inaugural South African Vocal Training Institute which will take place in Stellenbosch in January 2027. It is my privilege to take concrete action in return for the generous and enthusiastic financial contributions Rachelle and Derrick’s community made toward my work as a choir director and music teacher during my time at Laerskool Excelsior in Bellville.

During that period, many Americans opened their hearts and their wallets, providing substantial donations that covered transport and accommodation costs for our school choir as we traveled to nationwide competitions.
We were also able to purchase a good second-hand piano for each of two highly promising music students to help nurture their talent as young pianists.
Further generous contributions followed, enabling the establishment of a Music Fund used to subsidize the term fees for promising music students.

I am excited to grab this golden opportunity for myself, my family, my friends, and my colleagues to respond to and support BCBC’s work in South Africa through our own contributions, however modest they may be.

WhatsApp me at +27 73 264 0644 for more information and to make a donation in South Africa.

Ek is baie opgewonde om te kan deel wees van BCBC se geldinsamelingsveldtog vir die eerste South African Vocal Training Institute wat in Januarie 2027 op Stellenbosch plaasvind. Dis my voorreg om iets daadwerklik te doen vir hierdie mense in ruil vir hulle ruim en entoesiastiese geldelike bydraes tot my werk as koorleier en musiekonderwyser terwyl ek by die Laerskool Excelsior in Bellville betrokke was.

Die harte en beursies van vele Amerikaners het gedurende daardie tyd oopgegaan sodat ons skoolkoor se vervoer-en verblyfkostes tydens landswye kompetisies met groot donasies aangevul is.

Ons kon ook vir twee baie belowende musiek-leerders, elk ‘n goeie tweedehandse klavier koop om hulle talent as jong pianiste te help ontwikkel.
Verdere ruim bydraes het gevolg vir die daarstelling van ‘n Musiekfonds waaruit ouers van belowende musiek-leerders se kwartaalgelde gesubsidieer kon word.

Daarom is ek oortuig dat hier nou ‘n gulde geleentheid vir myself, my familie, my vriende en kollegas is om hierdie mense se ’liefdesdaad’ en omgee-gesindheid met ons bydraes, hoe gering ook al, te beantwoord en te ondersteun. Kontak my op WhatsApp by +27 73 264 0644 vir meer informasie en om ‘n bydrae in Suid-Afrika te maak.

08/10/2026

🇿🇦 25 YOUNG SINGERS. ONE NATIONAL GATHERING. ONE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. 🎶
From Gqeberha, Potchefstroom, Empangeni, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, eMalahleni, Mthatha, Makhanda, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, and communities across South Africa, 25 talented young singers will travel to Stellenbosch for the inaugural South African Vocal Training Institute, January 3–10, 2027.
This is more than a week of singing.
It is an opportunity to bring together young South African vocalists from across the country to learn, perform, collaborate, and grow alongside outstanding South African and international teachers.
And your gift helps make it possible. ❤️
Where does your support go?
Your donation helps provide the essentials that make this national gathering possible:
✈️ International faculty flights — R120,000
🏠 Faculty & international housing — R275,000
🎓 Faculty support — R150,000
🏡 University housing for students — R210,000
🚌 Student travel within South Africa — R70,000
Total projected need: R825,000
That’s approximately $51,500 USD.
Right now, we have an incredible opportunity to DOUBLE the impact of your donation.
🎯 $7,655 of our $10,000 matching gift is still available.
That means there is still $7,655 waiting to be unlocked — and every gift can go twice as far.
$50 becomes $100.
$100 becomes $200.
$500 becomes $1,000.
Help us bring these 25 singers together in Stellenbosch and give them access to an experience that can shape their voices, their careers, and the future of classical singing in South Africa.
💛 Help us unlock the remaining $8,155.
Donate through the link in our bio or at:
givebutter.com/bcbcsouthafrica2027
25 singers. One country. One week. A future of voices. 🇿🇦🎶

18/09/2026

🎶 We went looking for 12–15 singers. We found 25.

In August, we travelled across South Africa searching for exceptional young singers ready for intensive classical vocal training. What we discovered exceeded our expectations: 25 remarkable young artists, along with enthusiastic learners and teachers eager for opportunities to grow.

Talent is everywhere. Access is not.

From 3–10 January 2027, Bel Canto Boot Camp, in collaboration with the Conservatorium of Stellenbosch University and Mandela Bay Opera, will launch the inaugural South African Vocal Training Institute in Stellenbosch.

We want every deserving singer we identified to be able to attend — regardless of financial circumstances.

Your gift will help provide full participant bursaries, accommodation and essential travel support, and an expanded faculty of outstanding South African and international artists. It will also help us welcome learners and teachers from Empangeni and Sinenjongo High Schools into this growing community.

And right now, your gift goes twice as far.

❤️ Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, every dollar donated will be MATCHED, up to $10,000.

$50 becomes $100.
$250 becomes $500.
$500 becomes $1,000.

This is a chance to invest directly in a young artist — and to help build something we hope will serve South African singers and teachers for years to come.

🇿🇦 Invest in a voice. Double your impact. Help us say YES to these young musicians.

DONATE HERE:
https://givebutter.com/bcbcsouthafrica2027

Please consider sharing this post, too. Every donation — and every share — helps us bring these extraordinary young voices to Stellenbosch. ❤️🎶

08/09/2026

First of two days with Cape Town Opera’s Judith Nelson Young Artists. What a joy to reconnect with those we know and get to know the new ones! Looking forward to continuing our work on Friday! Thank you for trusting us with your beautiful voices.

03/09/2026

Final stop at of our amazing tour of South Africa at University of Fort Hare in preparation for our residency at Stellenbosch in January. We learned so much and met so many amazing singers - we wish we could bring all of them to Stellenbosch with us. Watch this space in the next weeks and months as we talk more about the work we will do in January and the singers, teachers, and supporters who will join us. One month left to get your application in! Link in bio.

02/09/2026

A wonderful day spent at Stellenbosch University Department of Music hearing and working with the talented students and attending their performance of L’enfant et les sortileges. Big thank you and congratulations to our colleagues Lauren Dasappa, Minette Pearce and Jose Dias

01/09/2026

So much talent in Cape Town and what a visit to South African College of Music and Opera UCT! We were so privileged to meet all these passionate singers. If YOU want to meet the opera stars of tomorrow currently training all over South Africa consider joining us in January in Stellenbosch! Singers and fans of singing all welcome for an unforgettable week of working together and getting to know each other.

30/08/2026

Our hearts might never have been fuller than when visiting Sinenjongo High School! This year was Sinenjongo’s first year participating in SASCE and they finished in the top 5 schools! We loved hearing them sing and witnessing the pride they feel for their choir and school. We brought good wishes from Empangeni High School and dream of a day when we can work in one place with learners from these amazing South Africa schools. We cannot wait to visit you again!

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http://belcantobootcamp.com/

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