Maritzburg College is proud to announce that talented young musician Aaron Hampshire has been selected to attend the prestigious A Cappella Academy in California, United States, this July. Aaron is one of only a small number of students worldwide chosen to participate in the highly competitive programme.

Hampshire joined the College at the beginning of 4^th form after spending five years at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, where he developed a strong musical foundation and a lifelong passion for singing. Having sung since Grade 1, Hampshire has built an impressive musical portfolio that includes vocal performance, saxophone, percussion, and knowledge of both piano and guitar. Despite his versatility as an instrumentalist, Hampshire believes the voice remains the most powerful instrument: “Voice is the best instrument because it’s the only one that was created by God,” he says.

Hampshire first learned about the A Cappella Academy through a friend and fellow choir alumnus. After preparing and submitting a video audition earlier this year, he received confirmation of his acceptance in February. The programme attracts thousands of applicants from around the world, but only around 70 students are selected annually.

Hampshire’s achievement is particularly remarkable because he has been selected as one of just eight bass singers worldwide to attend the academy this year. Each of the academy’s eight performance groups includes only one singer per vocal part, making his selection an exceptional honour.

The 10-day academy, running from 3–13 July, brings together talented young singers aged 12–18 from across the globe for intensive training in vocal performance, choreography, music production, and songwriting. Participants also perform in collaborative a cappella ensembles under the guidance of leading professionals in the field.

Among those involved with the academy are internationally renowned musicians including Avi Kaplan and Ben Bram, both closely associated with the world-famous a cappella group Pentatonix. Hampshire is particularly excited about the opportunity to learn from industry professionals who work at the highest level of contemporary vocal music.

Looking ahead, he hopes to pursue a career in music, possibly studying at institutions such as Berklee College of Music after completing his schooling. His long-term dream is to become a choral conductor and educator, sharing his passion for vocal music with future generations. Alongside his musical ambitions, Aaron also has a keen interest in science and engineering, with aspirations that could one day take him into the STEM field.

The College community congratulates Aaron on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to following his journey as he represents both the school and South Africa on the international stage.