This talented young alumna of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark recently released her debut Afrikaans single, Maskers (Masks), and is taking the South African music scene by storm.
With her soothing voice, shining personality and technical know-how this small town girl from Meyerton in Gauteng has established herself well within the television and radio industry over the past few years. Her journey to stardom took off in 2012 when she played the role of Brionay in a couple of episodes of the popular soapie, 7de Laan. In 2013 she was the runner-up in the reality television series Jy is my Liefling on KykNET. The producers of the film Liefling used this series to select the female lead in the stage production of Liefling.
Together with her good friend, Llewellyn du Plessis, she also starred in, directed and produced the television series, Vir Ewig en Altyd. The programme featured the wedding industry: from venues and invitations to legal advice and marriage counselling before the big day.
As the co-presenter of a breakfast program on 90.6FM Stereo, Verona vested herself as a household name in the Vanderbijlpark. Her stint at the radio station started in 2014 when she was appointed as news writer and reader.
When she is not singing, she works for the magazine Game & Hunt and also manages the publication’s social media platforms and video productions.
Proud NWU alumna
Aptitude tests showed that she had a talent for languages and from 2011 she studied BA Communication Studies and Language Practice at the NWU. She also completed an honours degree in Journalism in 2014.
During her first year of study, Verona was awarded as the best performing student in the then Faculty of Humanities. According to Verona her last year at the NWU definitely prepared her for the work environment. “That was the most difficult but also the most informative year of my entire time at the NWU and I wouldn’t trade that for anything else,” she says.
One thing she enjoyed very much at the Vanderbijlpark campus was that the classes in her third year and honours year were small. “The eight honours students were from totally diverse backgrounds and we became very attached to one another. We also became friends with our lecturers – bonds of friendship that we will cherish for many years.” She continues to say that the world of work – and especially journalism – is not for the faint hearted. “For instance getting up at four or five in the morning to prepare for work and only getting home after dark. As a journalist my hours vary and I sometimes work late into the night.”
A love for music
Verona says that she was only four years old when her talent was discovered. Her aunt would pick her up from school and then the two of them would sing together on their way home. At the age of eight, Heidi Schoeman of the Theatre of Performing Arts took her under her wing and she performed her first song at the Vereeniging Arts Festival for which she received an A++ rating. During her school career she regularly participated in Eisteddfods, school concerts and arts festivals. She also completed her Trinity Concert Certificate. For four years she was also a member of the prestigious South Gauteng Youth Choir, Colla Vocé.
“I studied a little bit of musical theory and I can play the piano and guitar,” says Verona and adds that she likes to try new challenges and is currently learning to play the ukulele.
The future looks bright
There are still a lot of musical goals that Verona would like to achieve, including her debut Afrikaans album, which she is very excited about. She would also love to work with South African artists like Elvis Blue, Karen Zoid, Freshly Ground and Chris Chameleon one day. “I hope that my debut album will be one of the highlights of my career. I have been waiting so long for this opportunity and it is truly a dream come true,” shares Verona.
* Maskers represents a team effort by herself and Hugo Ludik and boasts a folk-pop sound combined with meaningful lyrics and a catchy melody.
Verona in the recording studio. Photo: Facebook
