Charles Antrobus

I was born in 1982, one of twins. Richard and I being premature had our share of health issues and spent quite a while in hospital. Luckily, we pulled through and our family, which comprises two older sisters, moved to a small town called Fort Beaufort. My parents realised that I had a keen ear and a love of music when I became exited in the car and exclaimed 'Water Music, Water Music!' when they started playing the recording of Handel's Water Music. Before I had any type of formal music training, I would pick out hymn tunes that I heard at church.

Richard and I started singing in the Junior Choir in my first year of schooling. After two years of school, we moved to Grahamstown, as my father was offered a post at Rhodes University. Things really started to get going at this point, as Richard and I became trebles in the Cathedral of St Michael and St George under the direction of Christopher Cockburn. This did wonders for my development. At this point, I started piano lessons; a year later, I picked up the recorder and then started violin lessons.

Upon starting high school at St Andrew's College in Grahamstown, I left the Cathedral Choir, as the demands of the Chapel Choir were quite enough. Unfortunately, my instrumental practising habits started becoming poor, and my enjoyment of music started to suffer as a result. My music theory was also poor, leading to my self-confidence suffering. I stopped piano lessons and made very little progress with my violin. I continued playing in the Chamber Orchestra and singing in the Chapel Choir, and I later joined the Pipe Band. Unfortunately, I decided to stop taking music as a subject and opted to take drama instead. Through all of the turmoil, my enjoyment of singing remained constant. I was encouraged to audition for the St Andrews/DSG Chamber Choir in my matric year and was accepted, which played a positive role in building my confidence as a singer.

In Matric, I joined a rock band with some classmates and a former pupil. I was kind of a weird add-on, playing djembe drums and a didgeridoo. This interest led me to "compose" and direct the music for a Grade 11 adaptation of Antigone. This became my matric project, in which I received 100 percent. I combined voice, percussion, recorder and basic violin.

A local musician tried to encourage me to take Voice at University. I would have none of that. Fortunately, many people encouraged me to audition for the Rhodes University Chamber Choir. This basically led me to where I am now. Like school, my 'varsity history was tumultuous, but I remained anchored in my involvement in the RUCC.

As time went on, I became reacquainted with the Cathedral Choir, joined Pro Carmine (a local adult choir), sang in a plainsong group, and then became a member of the University Madrigal Singers, which has become Saeculum Aureum.

In other areas of life, I reside on a small farm and work when needed. Fortunately, I majored in isiXhosa non-mother tongue, and I continue to use and improve this skill on a daily basis.