The Black Tie Ensemble is a leading South African opera company, founded in 1999 by legendary South African diva, Mimi Coertse, along with renowned opera director and costume designer, Neels Hansen.  Based in the South African State Theatre in Pretoria, the Ensemble is managed by Arnold Cloete, with acclaimed repetiteur Susan Steenkamp-Swanepoel acting as senior coach and repetiteur to the singers. The Ensemble has successfully staged numerous opera seasons, in collaboration with a number of generous sponsors.

Amongst the ranks of the Ensemble members, some of South Africa's most beautiful voices can be found. In addition, the Black Tie Ensemble Incubator Scheme was established to train young singers who have the potential of making a career out of opera, singers who may not otherwise have the resources necessary to pursue a formal musical education. All our singers' talents are nurtured by a group of some of the country's leading vocal teachers, music tutors, and acting and movement lecturers. These efforts are supported by the training of a group of technical incubators, providing them with the necessary skills to conceptualize, design, stage and manage a full-scale opera production.

More recently, The Black Tie Opera Chorus came into existence. This is a large chorus of trained singers who serve the function of a professional opera chorus in all Black Tie productions requiring a chorus, although it also functions as a separate performing entity.

As part of our ongoing opera education and outreach initiative, we do numerous schools tours to introduce children to the magical world of opera, alternatively inviting schools to join us at the theatre. The Black Tie Ensemble is a true investment in the future!