Cum Laude graduate and Music prodigy
AUCKLAND PARK - Talented Sibusiso Ngobese will graduate Cum Laude and perform a solo on his birthday at the University of Johannesburg.
It’s not often that one gets the privilege to be the main performer at one’s own graduation ceremony.
For University of Johannesburg (UJ) Choir soloist and basketball player, Sibusiso Ngobese (21) this will be a most memorable event.
Not only will he receive his honours degree in economics and econometrics, graduating Cum Laude on his birthday, 14 March, but also perform as a soloist at the ceremony.
The KwaZulu-Natal raised Ngobese started singing at the tender age of nine in his primary school choir as a soprano. He was later selected to sing for the Northern KwaZulu-Natal Youth choir in 2007, where he worked with great musicians who guided him in his early singing career.
The fledgling musician ultimately matured into the young man who is now under the baton of UJ’s Choirmaster Rennette Bouwer.
“I was born with the gift of singing, from childhood I think not a day goes by without me singing.” He also has an inexplicable passion towards music, from classical and opera to isicathamiya and jazz.
Ngobese has had the pleasure of singing at the Metropolis meeting hosted by the City of Johannesburg, where 200 of the delegates present were mayors from across the globe.
He does not consider managing academics, sport and singing a duty, as these are the things he loves.
For Ngobese, it’s an honour to sing at any graduation ceremony, be it with the choir or as a soloist.
“Singing at my own graduation is still unbelievable and I’m truly blessed to have that opportunity. I feel a bit of pressure and am somewhat nervous for it’ll be an important event in my life, and I’m grateful to Ms Bouwer for making this opportunity possible.”
Ngobese believes he can integrate economics and singing by being an economics professional by day and a performer by night.
He expressed his gratitude to the university for contributing to his growth.
“UJ has granted me much exposure from the performances I’ve been performing at. It has endless opportunities and the accessibility of resources truly makes the university a place where one can become what they would like to be.”
