Johan Botha (tenor)

Born in Rustenburg, South Africa, Botha began his vocal training with Jarmila Tellinger from the age of 10 through 17.

He then served for two years in the South African Air Force before pursuing further studies in Pretoria with Eric Muller.

His voice initially was trained as a bass-baritone and his first opera performance was portraying the title role in a student production of Verdi's Falstaff.

[1] Botha made his professional stage debut at the municipal theatre in Roodepoort as Max in Der Freischütz in 1989.

[3] At the time of his death Botha lived in Vienna, Austria, with his wife Sonja and two sons.