South African Opera Singer Belinda Silbert | Inspirational Musician | Musicians with Disabilities

Belinda Silbert

Location: Cape Town

Challenge: Epilepsy / Asthma

South African Soprano Belinda (Metlitzky) Silbert was born in Johannesburg and lived in Pretoria, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem; Brighton and Hove before settling in Cape Town.

Belinda is also a Futurist and mystic who is a household name because of her television programmes ("Making Contact" SABC 3 and "Your Date with Destiny ETV) and her past regular radio slot on KFM 94.5.

Belinda started learning to play piano at the age of 5, studying with Pam Sutherland, followed by studies with Betty Chertkow until age 18 and then Ivan Melman at University of Witwatersrand for one year.

"Throughout the most profoundly dark times, my passion for singing has giving me the strength to persist. I shall NEVER give up!

My dream is to have the chance to perform with an orchestra since my career was interrupted by illness and I have now reached the point where I am of the standard to do so. I would love to have the opportunity to sing and record that I missed when I was younger." says Belinda

As a mystic, she has appeared on "Three Talk" (SABC 3), "Free Spirit", "The Fat Joe Show", ETV "Morning Live", and "The World News". She had her live show "Cross over and Connect with Belinda" at the Baxter. Radio interviews have included Cape Talk-702, Lotus FM, SAFM, Metro, Radio Algoa, and KFM.

Belinda studied opera at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, Israel and her mentor was the late soprano Joyce Barker at the University of the Witwatersrand where Belinda was awarded the "Abraham and Olga Lipman Music Scholarship".

She has studied under the guidence of various voice coaches such as Bibiana Goldenthal (Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem; ) Joyce Barker (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg;) Agnes Massini (Israel;) Norma Biaggi (Johannesburg;) Lorraine du-Toit Havemann (Pretoria;) Andrea Catzel (Cape Town; ) Peter Lurie (Europe.) Master Classes with Vera Roczy (Kiri Te Kanawa's late teacher;) Professor Herman Le Roux (San Francisco Conservatory of Music.) Vocal Coaching: Lina Maisky; Gaby Gunders; Chris McManus; Victor Tichart; Anthea Haupt.Presently coaching with Dr. Lisa Engelbrecht (University of Cape Town.)

A highlight of 2010 was the role of the Hebrew Priestess in "Silence of the Music", participation in the inaugural Muze Women’s Fest and her show "Hearing Goddess". Belinda premiered Professor Peter Klatzow’s "Lamento Vocalise" in the latter part of 2010. This work was written for her by the renowned composer.

Special Honours:

Abraham and Olga Lipman Music Scholarship winner, University of the Witwatersrand.
Scholarship: I.V.I (International Voice Institute)f or Higher Diploma in Artistic Voice programme (a collaboration with Professor Le Roux and San Francisco Conservatory of Music.)
Gold Medalist and Diploma awards in Eisteddfods.

Belinda participated in International Singing Competitions: in Vercelli Italy and the Sylvia Geszty Coloratura Competition in Luxembourg. Extensive Repertoire performed in Israel; South Africa and Europe: extends from coloratura Soprano; to Mezzo-Soprano and now singing Dramatic Soprano Fach as well.

Belinda has a passion for both researching and teaching Bel Canto singing technique.

Belinda Silbert