Growing up in eMkhondo (Piet Retief), music was just something his family did. “We’d wake up singing. We are working, we are singing,” he says. And found music always spoke to his heart.

Laughing, he confesses to being a very naughty child who would do silly things to get the attention of his classmates and teachers. So much so that at the age of 16 he was expelled from one school and required to take an extra mural class to get into a new one.

He decided to join the choir, mainly so he could be with a friend, Sihle Mahlobo, saying, “I’m not going to stay there. Choir was not really popular and I couldn’t really sing.” Then came the day his teacher told him to sing a solo.

“So I sang and when I finished, there was this small moment where it’s just quiet.”

As he began questioning how bad it had really been, his classmates all started clapping. Ever since that day, he’s loved music and opera in a different way, discovering that he could now actually do something that gets attention for the right reasons.

That love saw him studying music at the Tshwane University of Technology and then busking on the streets until he was accepted at the Cape Town Opera company. His passion for opera further ignited, he applied to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and was accepted in 2020.

Every year around 250 singers from across the globe audition to attend the school and vie for the 12 top places. Not only did he secure a top place, Guildhall further offered Innocent an award to cover his tuition fees. Recognising his talent and potential, he received a scholarship from OMT to cover his living expenses.

“The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust places a lot of emphasis not only on the candidate’s motivation but also on their reference letters. Innocent’s references not only spoke to the beauty of his natural instrument but also to his immense charisma and giftedness as an onstage performer who puts in the hours to hone his talent,” says Tracey Webster, CEO.

What characterised Guildhall for him most was that “everyone from different walks of life coming together in one space and sharing music. What I learnt at Guildhall is that music looks beyond colour.”

He also learnt more about stage craft and presence, communicating and connecting with the audience, building his personal brand and taking his singing technique to the next level.

His humility, infectious optimism and zest for life often hide what has not always been the easiest journey. Relocating to the UK was one of the biggest challenge he’s faced - financially, emotionally, and more, especially as he is really close to his family. “I had to take the decision that this is going to be good for us.”

Innocent’s journey to BGT essentially began in 2018/2019. The producers invited him to audition, but at the time he questioned whether opera companies would take him seriously.

Fast forward to 2024. As with so many exceptionally talented musicians, Innocent began experiencing financial challenges.

“I’ve got a talent but no one really knows about me. Let me take a chance in this competition.”

Stepping onto the stage at BGT was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. Having performed at many opera houses, he’s used to the audience being reserved. BGT’s audience’s reaction was instant and he was equally overwhelmed by the judges’ responses. His audition is also one of this year’s most watched on YouTube, with over 2.6 million views in just 3 weeks.

Given that opera is often perceived as inaccessible and even elitist, this speaks volumes about Innocent’s power as a performer, the clarity of his voice, his charisma and charm, his presence and personality, and the pure watchability of it all.  

“Opera is not my culture at all. It’s very niche. But coming into it, I knew that I was going to bring new audiences into it, especially young black people. By creating curiosity and interest in it, it becomes exciting when you get to understand a bit more about it.”

We suspect that what the Three Tenors did for opera in the nineties is a starting point for what Innocent will do for opera for decades to come.

With the biggest smile, he says “getting to live by singing opera is a dream come true.”

When asked what advice he’d give to other young aspiring artists, he replies “If you aspire to be something in life, don’t look around where you are and be discouraged. Look beyond where you are and you can do it.”

You can follow Innocent’s journey on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and of course BGT.