Women vocalists take top honours at Unisa’s globally renowned showcase

On 30 and 31 January 2025, the Unisa Music Foundation Directorate hosted the final leg of the two-week-long 7th Unisa International Voice Competition. Some of the world’s top vocalists descended on the university’s Muckleneuk Campus in Tshwane to showcase their prowess in the Jazz and Classical categories. Taking the top spot in these categories came with recognition on Unisa’s prestigious international platform as being the best of the best, and a $15,000 cash prize.

Following an intense session rigorously judged by a formidable 14-member jury, comprising judges recognised for their musical artistry by, among others, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Molly Dzangare and Maria del Mar Vilaseca were crowned winners of the 7th Unisa International Voice Competition in the Classical and Jazz categories, respectively. Molly Dzangare is a soprano from Zimbabwe. She has won several accolades, including the Schock Foundation Prize for Singing, the David Aldred Memorial Prize for Sopranos, and the Aviva Pelham Operetta Competition.

Maria del Mar Vilaseca, a Barcelonian based in New York City, sings, plays piano and guitar, and composes music. She has performed at numerous music festivals, including the well-known Barcelona Jazz Festival and the Festival de Jazz de San Javier. The winners were applauded for demonstrating extraordinary musical maturity, interpretative insight, and commanding stage presence, earning the highest accolades in their respective categories.

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In his welcome address, Dr Samson Diamond, Deputy Director of the Unisa Music Foundation, detailed the rigorous processes the competitors underwent during the two-week-long voice competitions in the Jazz and Classical categories. He emphasised that the competition has tested endurance, stylistic fluency, artistic integrity, visuality, and depth of expression. Durin her message of support, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, expressed her delight in welcoming the guests of the competition, emphasising that, beyond its competitiveness, the competition is unique on the African continent: “Unisa is the only African university with membership of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, and, outstandingly, the only member uniquely offering the jazz category in the federation,” she said.

Concluding, LenkaBula emphasised that the university is intent on standardising Africa’s music to ensure that it is globally competitive through its unique ingenuity, instruments, rigour, rhythm, and intellectual aptitude. Artistic Director of the Unisa International Music Competition, Professor Thomas Pooley, stated: “Over the past two weeks of intense and competitive showcasing, the finalists have proven their artistry to the juries through meeting rigorous criteria specified for each of the given rounds, and in addition, they have demonstrated their maturity and originality as artists.” Pooley, who chairs the 14-member jury, congratulated the winners on reaching this significant milestone by demonstrating their musical artistry.

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