Monica Mhangwana: When Opportunity Meets Perseverance

When I first spoke to South African opera singer Monica Mhangwana in 2022, I was struck by her positive outlook despite the many setbacks she was facing in her career. At the time, she described it as feeling like taking “one step forward and ten steps back.” Little did she know that a new opportunity was about to change the direction of her journey. Monica went on to receive a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Music at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in Germany, opening the door to new experiences and opportunities on the international stage. Originally from Pretoria, Monica has built a diverse career spanning opera, classical concert works, jazz, pop and African contemporary music, with performances with Cape Town Opera, Johannesburg Opera and Semperoper, as well as tours across Europe and Africa. In this follow-up conversation, I wanted to hear how life had changed for Monica since our first interview — about her new life in Germany, the opportunities she is embracing, and what it means to build a career far from home. We also talked about South Africa, what she misses, and the differences she has discovered between life in Germany and back home. But what struck me once again is not only Monica’s talent and determination, but her genuine willingness to help other singers. In a highly competitive profession, she is generous with her experience and encouragement, offering valuable advice to South African singers who are considering further studies in Europe. Her desire to give back and help others follow their own passion says a great deal about the artist she is. And then there is the joy she brings with her wherever she goes — including the time she taught an audience in northern Germany to sing and dance Pata Pata! It was wonderful to reconnect with Monica and hear how far she has come. Her story is one of perseverance, opportunity, gratitude and generosity — and a reminder that sometimes one step forward can eventually lead somewhere we never expected. Every artist has a story worth hearing. If you've enjoyed The Artist's Voice, you're invited to support the project through https://buymeacoffee.com/petrasittig Every coffee helps keep meaningful conversations with artists brewing. Thanks for listening, watching, and cheering on the arts! The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ #operasingers #southafricanartists #petrasittigtheartistsvoice