The academy which is based in Fourways has already produced five of the cast members from the Sound of Music, and pupils from the academy also appear regularly on the TV show PLAY Network TV on SABC 3.
Kraus explained that if pupils wanted to be part of the academy, they first had to audition for her so that she could assess their talent and commitment to the performing arts. “I only accept very gifted pupils,” she said. “They have to be focused on making a career out of performing arts.”
Kraus knows the entertainment industry like the back of her hand. The singer was born in New York and was educated at the world famous Julliard School of Music. Upon graduating Kraus was invited to take master classes in opera, concert and art songs at the prestigious Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Kraus’ first year as a professional opera singer launched her into the limelight of the Salzburg Opera House, where she sang six leading roles in six different operas in her first season. Kraus has since fallen in love with South Africa and has made a home and career in the country. She is also the adoptive mother of hip-hop star and TV personality Sipho ‘Psyfo’ Ngwenya.
Kraus teaches singing and drama at her academy, but advised that the industry had become so tough that performers also needed to know how to dance and model to find work. “Singers need to be able to market themselves and always need to set goals,” she said. Kraus said she did not teach diva behaviour at her academy, but rather teaches her pupils to be humble and give back to society. “You need to be able to have people look up to you like an idol,” she said.
