Professor Conroy Cupido

Prof Conroy Cupido completed a BMus at Stellenbosch University, an MMus and Artist Certificate at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas), and became the first South African to earn a Doctorate in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas (2009). In 2024, he obtained an MA in Positive Psychology from North-West University with distinction.

An accomplished performer, he has sung leading roles in operas, oratorios, and recitals across South Africa, the USA, the UK, and Italy. His research focuses on music, emotion, positive psychology, and well-being, and he is an NRF C2-rated researcher, Director of the NWU School of Music, President of NATS South Africa, and Director of Cape Town Opera, where he chairs the Strategy Committee.

Prof Cupido has published widely, including the books Enhancing Spirituality through Music Education in the New Apostolic Church (Peter Lang) and Music, Art and Emotion: Depictions of the Night Inspired by Romantic Art Song (AOSIS, 2022). He has presented papers at numerous national and international conferences and was a South African ambassador for the Cleveland Foundation’s Creative Fusion Programme (USA).

His students have achieved remarkable international success, winning major competitions such as ATKV Musiqanto, UNISA, and Mimi Coertse, and performing at the Royal Opera House (London), La Scala (Milan), Staatsoper Berlin, Opera North (UK), and Utah Opera (USA). He received the NWU Award for Teaching Excellence (2013) and Institutional Research Excellence Awards (2017), recognising his outstanding contributions as performer, pedagogue, and scholar