The Fijian tenor
TODAY he is known as the Fijian Tenor, but Justin Blake Hickes’ journey into the music industry is quite a remarkable lesson. He believes if you have a passion for something, go after it.
Hickes grew up admiring the way his grandmother would grace the stage with her powerful soprano voice and her Kadavu Church Choir, but he had never sung in front of a crowd. This was also a driving force in his choosing to be a classical singer or opera singer.
His passion for music came into reality during his last year of high school at Suva Christian Community High School (SCCHS).
Hickes recalls that during the annual school concert in 2015, he finally had the courage to walk up the stage for a solo performance. During his performance, there was a woman in the crowd who saw the potential in his voice.
The woman was a sponsor of a student at SCCHS, and she had just arrived in the country after completing her studies and graduating with a major in classical vocal from Koshin University.
“There was a Korean lady sitting in the audience who was a classical vocal major graduate from Koshin University.
“She approached me and our head of school and asked if I wanted to take music lessons from her with no charge at all,” Hickes said.
“She sings opera, and she noticed me from the crowd and immediately knew I had potential.”
Hickes learned under the wings of his new music teacher for over a year and left for Korea in 2017 to also try and get into Koshin University.
While in Korea, he faced difficulty getting into the university due to financial issues.
“It was tough because I wanted to get into Koshin University, but there were things that hindered it.”
Despite not having formal vocal training in Korea, he returned home and focused on developing his singing skills.
He worked to support himself, pursued a tourism diploma at USP, and eventually found his way to Pacific Primo Voce, Fiji’s first classical vocal group.
In 2019, Hickes became one of the leading voices in Pacific Primo Voce, a group also known for its melodious tunes.
“Voce is an Italian term for voices, so Primo Voce, in English, means leading voices.”
Last year, Hickes embraced a new challenge, transitioning to being a solo artist. His venture into classical music aimed to bring a distinctive flavor to Fiji’s music industry.
Despite the abundance of talent, he expressed that the journey is tough without sufficient training, education and resources.
However, he’s optimistic about the new opportunities he has found for others to learn opera and classical singing.
“It was hard for me at first when I decided to go solo because I was always part of a group, and most of my gigs were with them.
“Opera (the Italian word for work) is an art form that tells a story through music and singing.
“Unlike a musical, opera singers do not use microphones to amplify their voices, and the music, played by the orchestra, is completely live.”
Since going solo, Hickes has performed on many occasions, with his biggest gig being an exclusive wine-tasting event at the Nanuku 5-star resort, where he was specifically requested due to his classical genre of music.
He has also been selected to play the role of Sam Carmichael in the first Fijian Broadway Mamma Mia, which takes place this month.
“The producers called me to audition and I got the role of Sam Carmichael, which is one of the main roles, so I could say this is one of the highlights of my career so far.”
According to Hickes, the biggest highlight of his career is being given the title of The Fijian Tenor, the first of that as well in this country.
“In most countries around the world, when you’re given that title, it means that you’re on top of your game.”
Apart from singing, Hickes volunteers as a youth development officer with the Saint John’s ambulance, something he believes is making him give back to the people. His story stands as a testament to the perseverance needed in the face of challenges, reinforced by the importance of a supportive network on his demanding, but rewarding musical odyssey.
There was a Korean lady sitting in the audience who was a classical vocal major graduate from Koshin University. She approached me and our head of school and asked if I wanted to take music lessons from her with no charge at all
– Justice Hickes