South African soprano Alma Oosthuizen matriculated from the Pro Arte Secondary School in Pretoria and furthered her vocal studies at the University of Stellenbosch under Professor George van der Spuy and Peet van Heerden. She continued her studies at the Opera school of the Pretoria Technikon under Eric Muller.

She obtained her UNISA Teachers’ and Performers’ Licentiate in Singing, the latter with distinction. While studying at these different schools, piano was her second instrument and she passed her third year piano exam for the B.Mus.degree with merit.

In 1994, Alma and late pianist David Taljaard undertook a concert tour to Europe with successful performances in The Hague, Antwerp, Brussels, Hamburg, Frankfort, Vienna, Berlin and Oslo.

For 14 years she appeared as soloist with various performances of Lieder, Cabaret and Industrial Theatre for inter alia the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), University of South Africa (Unisa), the universities of Potchefstroom and Stellenbosch, Classic FM, SAfm, Radio SA and for various companies.  She was nominated on two occasions for the Radio Artes award and has received various other awards and prizes, e.g. The Pretoria Technikon Opera-prize, prize as winner of the ATKV Forte Competition, the SABC-Total prize and was the runner up (Concert Division) of the UNISA International Singing Competition.

Being a versatile musician, Alma has also been responsible for outstanding contributions in the field of musical theatre with appearances in OLIVER (Baxter and Breytenbach theatres), JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE …(SA State Theatre and Baxter Theatre), THE CARPENTERS- WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN (SA State Theatre), A LITTLE SONDHEIM MUSIC (Grahamstown). 

She has performed with singers Sibongile Khumalo, Michele Corbin, Isabelle van Zyl, Minette du Toit Pierce and pianist Malcolm Nay in e.g. TWO DIVAS AND A LITTLE JAZZ and FROM BACH TO BROADWAY. Some of these concerts have been recorded by eTV and presented in actuality programmes.

Alma lectured consecutively at Wits and at the University of Potchefstroom for twelve years.

In 2004 she started her own singing studio in George where she now resides. In 2007 she composed, directed and accompanied a musical for her students called “Songs of Life” which was successfully performed in the Arts Theatre and the Market Theatre in George.

Published 16.01.2011