Vuyani began his training with Wilhelm Theunessen at the Free State Musicon, South Africa. He won an eight month scholarship on the Opera Queensland Young Artists’ Programme, a full scholarship for 2004/2005 at the Royal College of Music, and a full scholarship for the Benjamin Britten International Opera School, RCM, from 2006.
Roles include Sparafucile Rigoletto, Bonze Madama Butterfly (South Africa), Angelotti Tosca and Leporello Don Giovanni (both covered at Opera Queensland), Colline La Boheme (South African State Theatre), and Commendatore with Sir Thomas Allen as Don Giovanni. Vuyani made his professional debut in Britain as Palemon Thais with Grange Park Opera.
His concert performances have included Mozart’s Requiem, Bach St Matthew Passion and Rossini Stabat Mater and last season he appeared at the Royal Festival Hall singing Beethoven’s ninth symphony with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Paul Daniel and in Nottingham singing the Verdi Requiem.
Vuyani recently sang the Commendatore, Don Giovanni and Prince Gremin, Eugene Onegin for British Youth Opera and Seneca, Poppea and Bartolo, Le Nozze di Figaro for the RCM and covered Sarastro, The Magic Flute, for Opera North.
Vuyani is a member of the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Programme which he joined in September 2007. This season he made his mainstage debut singing 2nd armed man Die Zauberflöte, Zaretsky Eugene Onegin, and Cappadocian Salome under conductors such as Philippe Jordan and Jiří Bělohlávek.
In the 07-08 season Vuyani will sing Flemish Deputy Don Carlos conducted by Antonio Pappano and in the 08-09 season his roles will include Tutor Elektra, Count Ceprano Rigoletto, 4th Elder Lohengrin and Tom Un ballo in maschera. Vuyani will also cover Timur Turandot and Ferrando Il Trovatore.
Other forthcoming engagements include the Doctor Pelléas et Mélisande for Independent Opera and a solo recital as part of the All Saint’s concert series.
Vuyani was the 2007 recipient of the coveted Clonter Opera Prize, which is awarded annually by a panel including members of the UK's major conservatoires to the most promising young singer. In October 2007 Vuyani was a finalist in the prestigious Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition in Germany.
Vuyani Mlinde is represented by Intermusica.
May 2008 / 350 words. Not to be altered without permission. Please destroy all previous biographical material.