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South African lyric tenor Lwazi Hlati is an accomplished opera singer whose performances span opera, concert, oratorio, and contemporary vocal works. He has appeared with opera companies, orchestras, and concert organizations throughout the United States, South Africa, and Greece. He is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance at the University of Southern California (USC), where he continues to develop his career as a lyric tenor.
Recent honors include Third Prize and the Audience Choice Award at the Annapolis Opera Competition, First Prize at the American Opera Idol Competition, and First Prize for Best Art Song Presentation at the Duncan Williams Voice Competition, presented by New York City Opera and the Manhattan School of Music.
Recent engagements include Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème with Chautauqua Opera; participation in the workshop presentation of Missy Mazzoli's Lincoln in the Bardo, commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera; Handel's Messiah with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra; concert performances of Bizet's Carmen and Mozart's Coronation Mass with the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra (CHICO); and the American Opera Idol Winner Concert in Connecticut.
Hlati has built a diverse operatic repertoire, including Rodolfo (La bohème), Don José (Carmen), Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Fenton (Falstaff), Prunier (La rondine), Miguel (Pépito), Harold Mitchell (A Streetcar Named Desire), Gastone and Alfredo (cover) (La Traviata), King Kaspar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), the Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola), and Sam (Our Town). His repertoire also includes contemporary works such as Missy Mazzoli's Lincoln in the Bardo and Arlington Jones's Promise of the Heart.
Throughout his career, Hlati has collaborated with respected companies including Chautauqua Opera, The Dallas Opera, Opera North, Fort Worth Opera, Opera in the Ozarks, and Cape Town Opera. He has also appeared as a Young Artist with Chautauqua Opera, The Dallas Opera, and Opera North, while serving as a Studio Artist with Fort Worth Opera's Education Outreach Program.
An accomplished concert artist, Hlati has appeared as tenor soloist in Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Coronation Mass, and numerous gala concerts, recital series, and benefit performances throughout the United States. His concert engagements include appearances with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, Lewisville Lake Symphony, Fort Worth Opera, and Arlington Opera. Hlati also created the role of Abe in the premiere of Arlington Jones's jazz opera Promise of the Heart, demonstrating his stylistic versatility across classical, contemporary, and crossover repertoire.
Hlati is also dedicated to vocal education and mentorship. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Voice at East Texas Baptist University, where he worked with developing singers while maintaining an active performing career. His commitment to teaching complements his work on the operatic stage and reflects his passion for nurturing the next generation of classical vocal artists.
His academic training includes doctoral studies at the University of Southern California, a Graduate Artist Certificate in Opera Performance from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music and Performer's Diploma from Southern Methodist University, and a Bachelor of Technology in Vocal Performance from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. Throughout his studies, he received numerous distinctions, including the Artistic Merit Award, the Bruce R. Foote Memorial Award, grants from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and SAMRO, the Artist Merit Award from the South African National Arts Council, and multiple awards from the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).
Hlati continues to perform as an opera singer, concert soloist, and recital artist throughout the United States while expanding his operatic and contemporary repertoire. His artistry is distinguished by expressive musicianship, stylistic versatility, and a commitment to bringing both standard and contemporary works to diverse audiences.
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
Doctor of Musical Arts | Vocal Performance
University of North Texas (Denton, TX)
Graduate Artistic Certificate | Opera Performance
Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
Master of Music | Vocal Performance
Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
Performer's Diploma | Vocal Performance
Tshwane University of Technology (Pretoria, South Africa)
Bachelor of Technology | Vocal Performance
WORK
Chautauqua Opera (Chautauqua, NY)
Young Artist
East Texas Baptist University (Marshall, TX)
Adjunct Professor of Voice
The Dallas Opera (Dallas, TX)
Young Artist
Opera North (Lebanon, NH)
Young Artist
Fort Worth Opera – Education Outreach (Fort Worth, TX)
Studio Artist
COMPETITION
The Annapolis Opera Competition (Baltimore, MD)
3rd Place & Audience Choice Award
American Opera Idol Competition (Hartford, CT)
1st Place
Duncan Williams Voice Competition (New York City, NY)
1st Place <Composer Song Presentation>
Mary Jacobs Smith Competition (Shreveport, LA)
Semi-Finalist
National Association of Teachers of Singing (Denton, TX)
2nd Place <Graduate Men's Division>
National Association of Teachers of Singing (Waco, TX)
2nd Place <Graduate Men's Division>
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