Where passion and drive come together

Janice van Rooy
I am Janice van Rooy, a 22-year-old soprano from Swakopmund Namibia. I am currently in my third year of Opera studies at the University of Cape Town, where I continuously try to refine and nurture my skills.

I chose the 4-year degree because it is less theoretical and more performance based. We all have different desires after we complete our studies. I do not wish to teach, I simply want to learn as much as I can so I can go into performing.

I, however, thought that you can do it straight after an undergraduate degree, but with opera you need more exposure, because opera is not easy - singing is not easy!

It certainly is less academic, as I expected it to be but in the performance aspect these are merely formalities. The voice and what you offer on stage matters the most!

Be sure

Several of my opera idols and other brilliant people I’ve met all started their studies at this university. The opera school here is known worldwide for producing excellent performers who now grace the biggest international stages of the world. Also, word of mouth goes a long way.

Before embarking on something so grand as the building blocks of your future career and life, be 100% sure that this is what you want for yourself and not what your parents thought was good for you. This is your life, and you will be doing this for the rest of your life. Be sure it is something you sincerely love and have always wanted to do.

Anything is possible, as long as you really want it and you work towards it. Things will always fall into place to make it happen for you! Keep practicing, keep dreaming and don’t be too hard on yourself. Our art form is such a complex, and sometimes highly misunderstood one, because of how it appears on stage to audiences.

If need be, and if you’re like me, coming from a country with very little Western culture and classical performances or even platforms to perform on, educate your friends and family. Tell them what you do.

This profession just ridiculously stereotyped or overlooked. Never compare yourself to the greats that have been doing this for longer than you and I have been alive. Yes, it seems difficult and impossible sometimes, but never forget how long it takes and how young you are and how much time you still have to fully understand and nurture your unique craft. Think of the voice as your little baby that needs so much care and nurturing and who will grow and mature with a lot of time and proper care and technical training.