A proud country girl who has a passion for opera, pop

“A COUNTRY girl with a story to tell.”

That’s up-and-coming soprano star, Slindo Zondo, 28, who is performing in this year’s Dolphins by Starlight at uShaka Marine World.

In an interview with The Independent on Saturday this week, the bubbly music graduate said this would be her first show singing both opera and pop.

Growing up outside Hibberdene on the South Coast, Zondo moved to Durban to study accounting, but her path soon took a different turn.

“My dad really wanted me to be an accountant, so I enrolled for accountancy but soon realised that wasn’t going to work and enrolled at the KZN School of Music.

“I had sung in the choir at school where I fell in love with classical music and singing.

“This is the first time I’m doing opera and pop in the same show, which is quite an experience,” she said.

After completing her music degree, Zondo went to Canada with a study abroad programme to do postgraduate studies in music.

“I learned my work ethic there; I never grasped how important it is to practise until I went there. The music students there will practise for up to 8 or 9 hours a day.

“I do believe in working hard, talent can only get you so far. It’s skill that matters and I practise every day,” she said.

And her practise time has to be scheduled in between working as a part-time music lecturer at UKZN.

“I finished my postgrad studies at UKZN and have been working there, which at first I wasn’t sure I would enjoy, but I’ve found I love working with young people. I work with classical singers and pop singers. I sing all genres, except jazz.”

While Zondo focused predominantly on opera during her studies and has performed in a number of productions, it was when she was involved in a UKZN collaboration in 2014 with some American students from Texas, that she started to become more involved in pop music.

Looking to create her own unique style, Zondo said: “It was then that I really started to digress from opera. I don’t want to categorise myself and I don’t have a favourite genre as they all have their moments, but looking to the future, I like musical theatre and I love writing music.

“I’m a country girl with a story to tell and I can do this through writing music. I like to fuse opera and Afropop. I write music about the experiences of young black women, what we are raised to be and what we can become. When I see other young black women succeeding, I know it can be done,” she said.

Zondo’s “go to” when she’s looking for a little musical inspiration are SA singing legend Sibongile Khumalo and Russian soprano Anna Netrebko.

“Sibongile Khumalo went from opera to jazz, which is so difficult, and Netrebko just took opera to another level,” said Zondo.

And while she’s always a little nervous ahead of a performance, she said the Dolphins by Starlight show was “all about fun and having a good time, Christmas is about family and good times. It’s been amazing working with all the other performers”.

And when Zondo isn’t on the stage or practising her music, she can be found tucked up with a romantic novel or watching a chick flick. She’s also a big fan of a little retail therapy as a pick-me-up.

This year’s Dolphins by Starlight runs until December 13 and, alongside uShaka’s dolphins, Zondo will be on stage with the Durban Gospel Choir, “Divo” Clive Gumede, singer Samantha Landers, the Quattro Femmes String Quartet and other guest artists. There are plenty of Christmas carols to get families into the festive spirit and Santa may pop in for a surprise visit.

Tickets from Computicket or via uShaka’s online ticketing on tickets.ushakamarineworld.co.za cost R170 for adults and R140 for children. Kids under 3 enter free. Enquiries call 031 328 8000.