Ann Masina
Ann Masina did vocals on th eTim Finn & Phil Manzanera album Caugt By The Heart.
She was born in the late 70s in Witbank, Mpumalanga and started singing in Africa Sings Choral Society in 1994 as a soloist. She participated in numerous choir competitions such as the Old Mutual/Telkom Competition and the Ikwekwezi Choral Competition.
In 1999, she joined the Nico Malan Opera House, also known as Cape Town Opera House and presently headed by Professor Angelo Gobbato. She performed operas such as “Carmen” and “Aida” with great acclaim. Masina took her vocal training under the tutelage of Pierre du Toit from the Pretoria Technikon OperaSchool. She is a co-founder of JOAT Opera Group, a self-supporting company performing extracts from different operas and musical at various social and official events. In 2002, she performed in a musical called “Sauer Street” at the Wits Theatre, performing with the late Lindelani Buthelezi and the late Ramolao Makhene as well as with the JMI Ochestra.
In 2003, she performed with the Black Tie Ensemble. In 2004, she was a soloist at the Sowetan Nation Building Mass Choir Festival. In 2008, she joined a European Tour by the double Grammy Award Winners Soweto Gospel Choir (SGC). She performed at the 46664 Concert at Hyde Park in London with the SGC as ambassadors for the late former South African President, Nelson Mandela. In 2008 and 2009, she took part in the Robyn Orlin productions “Dressed to Kill, Killed to Dress” and “Walking Next to Our Shoes” with an extensive tour of France.
In 2009, she performed with the Bala Brothers at Gold Reef City, did a Japan/Singapore-tour with the Soweto Gospel Choir (SGC) and performed at the FIFA Final Draw in Cape Town. In 2011, she renewed her collaboration with Robyn Orlin in the production “Venus / have u hugged, kissed and respected your brown Venus today”. Since 2012, she has been a part of William Kentridge’ “Refusal of Time”-workshop and the performance of “Refuse the Hour”, which toured through Europe (Festival Avignon, RomaEuropa, Holland Festival).
Masina is a versatile, talented and formidably large woman with an even bigger voice who handles opera, classical, gospel, jazz and pop with great aplomb.