Lulama
Taifasi Tenor

Lulama Taifasi, tenor, comes from the Eastern Cape and has been a member of OperAvenir at Theater Basel since the 23/24 season. His singing talent was recognised by Kamal Khan, the former director of the UCT Opera School. He received lessons from Hanna and Albie van Schalkwyk and from Grant McLachlan. In addition to concerts at the Italian Consulate in Cape Town and with the Musicumbrella Studio, he has performed in Montagu and Swellendam. He made his operatic debut during the SU Toyota Woordfee as Gastone in Verdi's 'La Traviata' with Mamre Opera. He performed with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020 and took part in the 50th Youth Classical Music Concert in Artscape in 2021. In April 2021, he completed his vocal studies at Trinity College in London with honours. At the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, he took part in the programme for young artists under Gianni Tangucci and sang Benvolio in Gounod's 'Romeo and Juliet' in April 2022. In May 2022, he sang the Fante del Consiglio dei Dieci in Verdi's 'I due Foscari' with Plácido Domingo in the leading role. In 2022 he reached the final of the Riccardo Zandonai Competition in Italy and won the Opera Sāo Paulo Prize. He was a finalist at the XII Concorso Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici in Pienza. 2023 he won a second prize at the Concorso Giulio Neri Internazionale Lirico. He was a finalist at the Concorso Lirico Città d'Alcamo in Sicily and won two special prizes: Lyons Club Alcamo and Mettiamoci all'Opera. He has attended masterclasses with teachers such as Eva Mei, Sara Mingardo, Bruno De Simone, Giulio Zappa and Matteo Pais.