About Us.
Welcome to Dapper Canary Vocal Studio, your go-to destination for professional singing lessons and vocal coaching! Launched in 2022, our studio is dedicated to providing quality vocal instruction for singers of all levels. Whether you're a beginner looking for voice lessons or an experienced performer aiming to enhance your vocal technique, we offer personalized coaching to meet your goals. Our mission is to help you improve your singing voice and build confidence in a supportive and inspiring environment. Discover the power of your voice with Dapper Canary Vocal Studio today!
About Chris.
Chris Vale, a South African baritone, has built a distinguished career in opera, musical theatre, and concert performances. With a BMus degree cum laude and accolades like the Mimi Coertse Bursary Competition, his talent is undeniable. He's known for his versatility, captivating audiences with roles ranging from Papageno to Henry Higgins. His recent work includes solo albums, collaborations with renowned artists, and contributions to the choral community through the Legato Choral Festival and Awards.
Chris Vale, the South African baritone of exceptional talent and refined taste, has spent his career crafting a voice that delights the senses and commands attention. With a BMus degree cum laude from the University of Pretoria, and an array of accolades including the Mimi Coertse Bursary Competition, it’s clear that Chris’s early promise was no fleeting thing.
His first foray into the operatic world in 2007 as Papageno in Die Zauberflöte set the tone for a career marked by versatility and charm. Whether portraying the bohemian Schaunard in La Bohème or the witty Leporello in Don Giovanni, Chris brings depth, nuance, and a dash of mischief to every role. From 2011 to 2013, he was a member of The Black Tie Ensemble, where he appeared in concerts such as One Voice: An African Celebration and The Mozart Gala, enchanting audiences with his vibrant interpretations.
Not one to be confined to opera, Chris ventured into musical theatre, delivering a suave and sophisticated Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady and tackling the several roles in Shrek: The Musical Jr., with a flourish that only he could manage. As if these performances were not enough, he has also stepped into the role of musical director for productions like Fiddler on the Roof and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, effortlessly demonstrating his command of both stage and score.
In 2021, Chris further solidified his reputation by releasing his debut solo album Come Away, a collection of works by Gerald Finzi and Franco Prinsloo, all set to the poetry of Shakespeare. The album garnered two prestigious Afri-Indie Awards: Best Classical Single and Best Classical Album for Chris and his collaborators, pianist Eugene Joubert, and composer Franco Prinsloo. That same year, he took to the stage with esteemed artists Renette Bouwer and Magdalene Minnaar in the concert Nagliedjies, showcasing his seamless collaboration with South Africa’s top musical talents.
2022 was no less impressive, as Chris performed in the celebrated Al Om Antjie production at the Toyota SU Woordfees, honouring South African poet Antjie Krog. He also joined forces with pianist Eugene Joubert for an inspired series of lieder concerts, tackling the iconic song cycles Songs of Travel and Dichterliebe with characteristic elegance and emotional depth.
The past two years have seen Chris perform Schubert’s Winterreise with the Chamber Music Collective, as well as take on the monumental baritone role in Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony under the baton of Maestro Richard Cock. His formidable talent was again on display in Brahms's Ein Deutsches Requiem in early 2024, further affirming his mastery of the great classical works.
As a core member of the award-winning Vox Chamber Choir, Chris contributes not only as a soloist but also as vocal coach for the male voices. He featured as a soloist on the choir’s SAMA Award-winning album Firebeast, underscoring his versatility as both performer and mentor.
Chris’s most recent album release, By alle skone dinge, is an anthology of Franco Prinsloo’s solo vocal music for baritone from 2004 to 2024, with collaborations with Franco Prinsloo (as both composer and pianist), Eugene Joubert (as pianist), and Marilize Hattingh (as soprano on the track “Bly by My”)
In addition to his performance career, Chris co-founded the Legato Choral Festival in 2022, offering choirs in Gauteng a non-competitive platform to shine. This initiative, along with the introduction of the Legato Choral Awards in 2023, reflects his deep commitment to fostering musical excellence and innovation within the choral community.
With a career that continues to grow, Chris Vale remains a paragon of vocal artistry, captivating audiences with a voice that is as powerful as it is refined, and a presence that commands the stage in any genre he chooses to grace.