In the room of powerful voices that will descend on Maitland for September’s Big Gig variety night fundraiser for Carrie’s Place, Emily Mwila’s will turn some heads.
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Just a few years ago the New Zealand singer was busking on the streets of Wellington, Auckland and Sydney. But her powerful voice got her noticed overseas.
Even though busking was difficult sometimes, it gave me the freedom to go to competitions and lessons
- Emily Mwila
In 2013 she competed in the Korean K-Pop World Festival – but she was packing a set of pipes most singers would envy dearly.
She began teaching herself the language of opera, performing the daunting pieces on street corners.
"Even though busking was difficult sometimes, it gave me the freedom to go to competitions and lessons,” she told Fairfax Media.
This month her remarkable talents were recognised when she was cast as Zerlina in New Zealand’s Eternity Opera Company's production of Don Giovanni.
The Big Gig’s organiser, Joe Gollan, said he was blown away by Mwila’s talent and her philosophy.
“She donates it to the homeless,” he said.
“It’s fitting because Carrie’s Place is a service provider to the homelessness sector.”
More information on the Big Gig can be found on Facebook.
