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Biography
Tsakane Valentine (Soprano)
BIRTHDAY: 14 February
Soprano Tsakane Valentine was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and
cut her teeth on the rich a capella choral traditions of her home
country. She studied music at Pretoria University. Tsakane continued
her operatic training at the Pretoria Technikon (University of Tshwane)
where she quickly caught the attention of the country''s leading music
enthusiasts. She appeared in high profile recitals including performing
for Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. She took the lead role of Maria in
West Side Story for Spier Opera Company in Cape Town. Other operatic
roles include the title role in Grafin Mariza, Manja, Musetta (La
Boheme), Valencienne (Merry Widow), Amelia (Amelia Al Ballo), Arminda
(La Finta Giardinera) and Contessa Ceprano (Rigoletto).
Loves:-
Dancing - anywhere, anytime!
Good food and good company
Shopping, of course.
Taking photographs
A good pint of ale, especially Abbot
A night out with the girls
Watching old movies on a rainy Sunday afternoon
Talking endlessly on the phone
Fast cars and Formula 1
Hates:-
Dishonesty
Noisy neighbours
Getting up early
Not having enough time to spend with family and friends
A freezing climate – need the sun!
Getting lost in strange places
Hangovers
David Habbin (Tenor)
BIRTHDAY: 14 October
David comes from Ringwood in the South of England. Having spent several
years of extensive performing and writing with rock/pop bands he began
vocal training with international operatic tenor, Jon Andrew and
secured funding to study acting and music theatre at Mountview Theatre
School in North London. With his studies there completed, engagements
followed including Marius and Combeferre in Les Miserables at the
Palace Theatre, a role in a British feature movie and over 600
performances in the role of Tony in the UK revival of the original
production of West Side Story both on tour and in the West End. David
then went on to consolidate his operatic training for two years at the
Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and has since performed
with various UK opera companies, in several roles including Alfredo in
La Traviata, Lt Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, Ernesto in Don Pasquale,
Almaviva in The Barber of Seville, Alfred in Die Fledermaus and Fenton
in Falstaff. David also worked with Glyndebourne Festival Opera for
their Summer Festival and their touring company before joining Amici
forever.
Loves:-
Sitting outside a forest pub as the sun sets
Led Zeppelin
Wong Kei (Chinese on Wardour St)
Marmite
My iPod
A good fitting pair of jeans
Bjorling singing Boheme
Jim Carrey
Maps
Hates:-
Automated phone switchboards
The hard sell and the non-delivery
Being late
Jo Appleby (Soprano)
BIRTHDAY: 7 April
The Blackpool, England-born Jo Appleby has a background of artistic
studies including ballet. She studied opera at The Royal Northern
College of Music where she gained her honours degree and won a
scholarship from the legendary D''Oyly Carte before embarking on her
successful operatic career. She performed with the Glyndebourne
Festival and Touring Opera Company as well as singing at prestigious
venues such as The Royal Albert Hall and The Royal Festival Hall. She
also worked with many other UK based opera companies.
Loves:-
The Countryside
Drinking Pimms on a sunny afternoon
Catching up with family and friends - especially Millie and Archie
Diamonds - especially her ''engagement'' ring.
Shopping
Chocolate
Watching Rugby ‘live’
Beer
Hates:-
Hairdressers who never listen and are scissor happy!
Hotel bedrooms by a lift.
Computers and they don''t like me!
Jet lag.
Fish - allergic!
Geoff Sewell (Tenor)
BIRTHDAY: 13 March
New Zealander and accomplished tenor, it was Geoff who first planted
the seed of Amici forever. Geoff was a boy soprano performing in his
school choirs until the age of 18. He obtained a Bachelor of Commerce
degree and qualified as a chartered accountant in NZ. Singing was
always a passion and he was coached by renowned NZ opera singer
Geoffrey de la Tour. Geoff took a sudden and decisive career turn after
his older sister Julie died tragically and a subsequent family trip to
the home of one of his childhood heroes, Elvis Presley. Deciding to
follow his dream he set his sights on becoming a professional singer
and studied at the prestigious Boston Conservatory in the US. He then
relocated to London where he combined his musical and financial acumen
to create an entertainment company with offices in London, Edinburgh
and New York.
Geoff has performed for Royalty and famous celebrities at numerous
events worldwide. He has performed in London’s West End and has sung
with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.
Loves:-
My gorgeous girls
Playing Golf, Tennis and Squash
Skiing
Watching rugby – especially when the All Blacks win!
Supporting Epilepsy charities and spreading awareness of the condition
Chocolate - lots of it
Walking along the rocks by the beach and coastline of my home NZ
Holidays with family and friends
Making a difference in people’s lives
Selling the sizzle not the sausage – as the Tidi team know: ABC! (Always Be Closing)
The sun and surf
Business class travel – First would be even better – using Danièle Ryman products to cope with the jetlag
Dining al fresco with a cheeky glass of Songlines ros?© or a NZ red
Hates:-
Clutter
Inefficiency and incompetence
Problems or delays with transport or bad driving
Wasting time - I have a lot to do so time management is key
Sitting around when I could be doing something active or more interesting
Smokey rooms – bad for the voice! | 
