NEW YORK – Mthatha-born tenor and composer Ongama Mhlontlo, now based in New York City, has released a music project titled Echoes. His work brings together the classical tradition, African languages and storytelling.

“I began my musical journey in Mthatha, where church music and choral singing helped shape my early artistic life. I went on to study at the University of Cape Town’s Opera School, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in 2019, before moving to New York to pursue a Master of Music at Manhattan School of Music, which I completed in 2021,” he said.

He added that, as a performer, he has worked with New York ensembles, including the Oratorio Society of New York, and has appeared as a tenor soloist at The Brick Presbyterian Church. Alongside performing, he writes vocal music that explores identity, belonging and the experiences of a South African artist living abroad.

“I recently released a project called Echoes. It consists of nine tracks and brings together some of the classical art songs that have shaped me as a singer with my own compositions in isiXhosa and English.

Echoes is really about memory, home and the different musical worlds that have shaped me. I grew up in Mthatha, later studied in Cape Town and eventually moved to New York, and all of those places have contributed to the musician and composer I am today.”

Echoes connects Mthatha and New York

Mhlontlo said the project brings those worlds together. He said that, even though he now lives far from home, South Africa, and particularly the Eastern Cape, continues to echo through the music he makes.

He added that he is a classically trained tenor, with his background primarily in opera, art song and choral music, but that, as a composer, his music is influenced by much more than classical music.

“I grew up surrounded by South African choral music and church music, and I am also influenced by contemporary genres. I am interested in creating music that allows all of those influences to exist together rather than feeling that I have to choose only one.

Music has been part of my life since childhood in Mthatha. I grew up around church and choral music and started playing the organ when I was young. Singing in choirs was also an important part of my early musical life. Eventually, that journey led me to study opera at the University of Cape Town and later to New York for my master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music.”

Mhlontlo confirmed that Echoes is his first project released independently under his own name. He said it has nine tracks, including original compositions as well as classical art songs.

From choral music to opera

“I have written considerably more music than what appears on this release, including song cycles and larger works, but I am taking my time bringing that catalogue to recordings. Echoes is really the beginning of the journey as a recording artist.

I live and work in New York as a professional tenor, composer and music educator. I perform regularly, including as a choral scholar with the Oratorio Society of New York, and I also teach music. I created The Class of Opera, my online platform where I share classical music and my experiences as an artist.”

He said New York has also become an important place for his composing, and he is currently developing more of his own music for future projects.

Mhlontlo said he actually thinks there are more similarities than differences between South Africa and New York. South Africa has extraordinary singers, and he has met South African voices that can stand alongside singers anywhere in the world.

“What is different is often the environment around the artist. New York has an enormous concentration of opera companies, orchestras, concert halls, schools, conductors and other working musicians, so you are constantly surrounded by the industry and exposed to different opportunities.

South African singers, on the other hand, often bring something incredibly distinctive because of our choral tradition, our languages and the way many of us grow up making music in our communities and churches. I do not see one as better than the other.

Living in New York has actually made me appreciate even more what South African musicians bring to the South African classical music world.”

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