“Breathtaking performance Marcelle, brought tears to my eyes”
She has performed at many of the major venues and festivals throughout South Africa, as guest artist for the Cape Town Festival's Concert in the Park, St George's Cathedral, JHB University Sundowner Concert Series, as well various concerts in the UK, Denmark, Belgium (Opus Sobrietate) and Brazil (Pergolesi's Stabat Mater). In 2011, Marcelle and highly acclaimed pianist Sylvia Schulman and esteemed Baritone Dr. Brad Liebl started the Country Classics Concert Series, in an effort to promote an appreciation of their art and to generate greater audiences and performance opportunities in the Western Cape countryside.
Being an unusually skilled performer, Marcelle has also enjoyed collaborations with different types of artists, notably, esteemed Sculptor Haidee Nel (I Long For You/ Les nuits d'ete; The Four Horsemen Exhibition, Cavalli Estate; Flowers in Art Exhibition for the Cape Town Flower Show; Swellendam Hospital Fundraiser and the Meermin Meerlig Sonvanger collaboration), as well as Belgian photographer Bert Daenen (Opus Sobrietate). It is in these types of creative collaborations that Marcelle flourishes.
Her particular skill lies in creating a powerful and emotional atmosphere for each piece of music she sings, using her delicate and emotive voice. By recontextualising beyond the constraints of classical expectations, in using the musical score as the starting point for creativity (a collaboration with the composer if you will) rather than the end goal of reproduction, she is able to explore the music and character from an intellectual, emotional, musical and in particular a physical level by drawing on the various disciplines in her background.
“Your singing touches the soul” - Marina, audience member, Swellendam, 2019.
“ A breathtaking soprano” - Uitstalling Gallery, Belgium, 2022
“Tears in my eyes ” - Bert Daenen, photographer, Belgium 2022
Marcelle started performing at a young age with classical ballet, piano, violin and acting. Whilst studying for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Drama at the University of Cape Town, she continued her dance studies with Jennifer Paynter through whom she was introduced to the Pilates method. Marcelle later obtained Pilates Instructor certification through STOTT Pilates (Canada) and the Pretoria Technikon (SA).
Having sung throughout her childhood and university in choirs and musical productions, it was only as a young adult that Marcelle was eventually persuaded to attend singing lessons. It was during these early lessons that the quality of her voice was noticed and she was introduced to classical repertoire. This introduction proved pivotal in shifting her focus towards towards acquiring a classical singing technique. Singing teachers include the world renowned Wendy Fine, Marita Napier (SA) and Jeff Talbot (UK). Subsequently she attended Master classes with David Jones (NY), Inacio de Nonno (Brazil) and The European Chamber Opera (Summer Course, Tarazona, Spain). Marcelle obtained a Master's Degree in Music through the University of Stellenbosch (cum laude). Her thesis examined how the Pilates method can be of benefit to singers in particular and musicians in general. This has initiated an interest in further research on the use of the Pilates method’s benefits for singers and musicians and her teaching work has been utilised by individuals hoping to solve their technical issues in a new way, as well as by institutions, for example, the Marvão International Academy of Music, Art and Science in Portugal.
Marcelle’s broad range of performing skills has led to a variety of engagements including: performing in Evita (Artscape); touring with The Theatre for Youth as well as writing and directing a play for the finals of the BP Community Festival. As a soloist for the Opera Activ company she has performed scenes from: Die Fledermaus (Adele), Le nozze di Figaro (Susanna), Don Giovanni (Zerlina) and Cavalleria Rusticana (Lola).