Discover Your Voice with Itumeleng Pooe!
Get ready to elevate your singing and explore the world of vocal studies and choral conducting with our exceptional instructor, Itumeleng Pooe! Itumeleng’s incredible musical journey began at age 19, blossoming under the expert guidance of Dr. Santisa Viljoen at NWU, where he completed his B.A. in Music & Society. His quest for knowledge then took him abroad to the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, where he specialized in Music Education. He’s had the privilege of learning from a roster of internationally acclaimed mentors, including Prof. Werner Nel, Prof. Kobie van Rensburg (Germany), Prof. Svein BjØrkØy (Norway), and Prof. Ingegärd Lindrot (Finland)!
Itumeleng’s career as a compelling bass-baritone soloist took off in 2010, gracing productions at the prestigious Cape Festival under the batons of critically acclaimed conductors like Peter Dijkstra (Holland), Jurjen Hempel, Michael Dingaan, and Grete Pedersen (Norway). His passion for choral excellence also saw him participate in the World Choir Games in 2018, alongside a transformative Conducting Masterclass at the University of the Free State.
A true leader in the choral world, Itumeleng has been invited to the “What it Takes: Conducting” courses at the South African National Youth Orchestra’s summer program. He’s also deeply involved with choirs across Southern Africa, from Botswana to Lesotho and Eswatini, and is frequently sought after as an adjudicator, including by invitation from the Department of Education.
Since joining NW Musikon in 2013 as our permanent voice lecturer, Mr. Pooe has been a cornerstone of our vocal program. His inspiring leadership extends to his roles as the conductor of both the NWU Symphonic Orchestra and the NWM Chamber Society. Prepare to be mentored by a true maestro!
