Rochelle Veenemans

Rochelle Veenemans is 18-years old and the granddaughter of South African opera star, soprano Barbara Veenemans. Rochelle is now regarded as the fifth Veenemans-soprano. 

Rochelle is blind and a Grade 12 pupil at a school for visually impaired children in Pretoria. 

Rochelle made her solo vocal stage debut at the age of four. She is a regular performer at charity events, children’s music theatre productions and she also performs regularly with her aunt and vocal tutor, opera singer Michelle Veenemans.

Rochelle frequently competes at various Eisteddfods. In 2012 at the age of 7, she received a special award from the South African National Eisteddfod Academy for her brilliant rendition of Bach’s aria, Bist du bei mir for Grade 1 pupils. As a result, she was invited to perform at the Young Performers Showcase at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria.

In November 2013, she won a Special Gold Medal Award for winning the overall Junior Section for Classical Vocal Music at the National Eisteddfod Academy, singing the Mozart aria, Voi che sapete.
In 2013, at the age of 8, she gave her first radio interviews for RSG Kuns and SAfm Radio. 

In June 2013, Rochelle was invited to perform at The South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind’s Diamond Jubilee Gala Concert at the Joburg Theatre. She sang the aria O mio Babbino Caro with a 70-piece symphony orchestra under the baton of maestro Graham Scott.

From 2011 to 2018, Rochelle won a total of 8 gold medals at the Afrikaanse Kunsvereniging Pretoria for her renditions of classical and oratorio works. In 2018, Rochelle was awarded 100% as well as a gold medal for her rendition of "I could have Danced all Night".

Rochelle became a member of the Girl Group, Devine Broadway Babes, in 2014. The group mainly performed hit songs from contemporary Broadway musicals and films and made their debut at the Pierneef Theatre on 13 September 2014. Rochelle participated in the Tribute to ABBA concert series in 2016 and 2017. 

Rochelle is a member of the Klassika Vocal Ensemble who performed the Stabat Mater of Pergolesi with great success at the Nazareth Chapel in Pretoria in 2015 and 2019.

Rochelle is a regular performer at the annual Ten Spyte Van ... concert series at the Pierneef Theatre, supported by the Cordis Trust.

She was invited in 2016 to sing in Otjiwarongo in Namibia. This was her first performance abroad.
Rochelle's debut CD, Enchanting, was launched in June 2014.

Her CD project for 2016 included the recording of the Stabat Mater of Pergolesi as part of the Klassika Vocal Ensemble.

She made her television debut on kykNet's JAM in December 2016.

In August 2018, Rochelle performed with the Pretoria Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Schalk van der Merwe.

In 2019, Rochelle performed at the Atterbury Theatre, as singer-dancer in the Hoërskool Zwartkops Dance Academy's gala show.

Rochelle released her second album, This is my Time, in 2020.

Rochelle passed her first ballet Grade 1 Class Award for the Royal Academy of Dance in 2020 with flying colours!

In 2021, Rochelle received full colours for academics at the Prinshof School for Visually impaired learners. She was class best for Grade 10 learners.

In 2021, Rochelle was requested by South African composer Dr Rexleigh Bunyard to sing a principle role in her modern chamber opera, Lost in a bluebell wood. Rochelle already made preliminary recordings of her parts and the opera will be staged as soon as it is financed. This work is the first opera written including sign language as a dramatic device to enhance the libretto. In 2021 the opera is being remotely recorded, designed and assembled by artists on 3 continents.  https://www.rexleigh.com/productions/bluebell-wood/  

In 2022, Rochelle was appointed as national Goodwill Ambassador for the Casual Day Projects for persons with disabilities. #casualday

On 12 June, Rochelle performed for Mimi Coertse's 90th birthday celebrations.

On 3 September 2022, Rochelle gave her first television interview for Bravo! 

On 22 January 2023, Rochelle performed at The Centurion Theatre in the prestigious Gala Concert in honor of her Grandmother Barbara Veenemans's 85th birthday celebrations.