Mrs Lotta Matambo
Mrs Lotta Matambo [BMus, MMus (Rhodes), Grad Dip (Finland)] is currently a Lecturer in Western Art Music History and Classical Voice at the Department of Music and Musicology at Rhodes University.
Lotta Matambo graduated from Rhodes University with a BMus, with distinction, specialising in musicology (composition and thesis) and performance (classical voice). Her MMus concentrated on the solo piano music of Einojuhani Rautavaara, a contemporary Finnish composer. Prior to this appointment she taught music in schools in Finland and South Africa. In addition she has been the vocal adjudicator twice at the Eastern Cape Eisteddfod.
Lotta began her music training at the age of seven at Päijät-Häme Conservatory in Finland where she completed the Graduate Diploma, receiving distinction in the classical piano and voice studies. During her under- and postgraduate studies at Rhodes University she received several national and international scholarships and in 2006 was selected for the Dean’s list for academic merit. She has been actively involved in the productions of the East Cape Opera Company since 2007, both as a soloist and a vocal trainer. In 2009 she founded Shirilaulu Vocal Duo together with Zimbabwean soprano, Yemurai Matibe and the group has toured widely both in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Her current research interest focuses on the Xhosa singers’ classical sound production as well as the role of basic music literacy education in tertiary institutions. Both research interests draw on her extensive community engagement experience with the East Cape Opera Company.
