Patricia Coetzee to participate in famed performing arts competition in LA
Representing Namibia on the global stage
Coetzee is set to represent Namibia in pop, country and soft rock at the prestigious World Championships of Performing Arts next month.
Namibian vocalist Patricia Coetzee is gearing up to represent Namibia at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) from 30 June to 6 July.Often referred to as the 'Olympics of performing arts', this prestigious competition features participants from over 60 countries, showcasing their talents in various art forms.
"I am excited about participating in this competition," Coetzee said.
The competition itself spans two to three days, but Coetzee and the other participants will be in Los Angeles for about two weeks.
During that time, the championship organisers have arranged various tours, including visits to Universal Studios and the Walk of Fame. A highlight of the event is the Parade of Nations, where each country gets to showcase their traditional attire. "I am looking forward to showing the world what Namibia has got planned," she shared enthusiastically.
Coetzee's road to the international stage began with her stellar performance at the Namibian Championships of Performing Arts, held annually at Windhoek Gymnasium School.
"I competed last year and won five gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Winning these medals qualified me for the World Championships of Performing Arts to represent Namibia in Los Angeles," she explained.
Amazing opportunity
As a vocalist, Coetzee will compete in three categories: pop, country, and soft rock music. The packages offered by the WCOPA allowed her to select these genres.
"I am a vocalist and with the packages that were offered to go to the World Championships of Performing Arts, you can only pay for three," she said.
Representing Namibia on such a grand stage is a monumental opportunity for Coetzee. "I do hope this will open a lot of doors for performances in Namibia because not a lot of people know me yet. Hopefully, I perform well and succeed so that when I come back, it could help build my performance confidence and put myself out there more," she said. Despite her impressive achievements, Coetzee admits she is still a bit shy and sees this competition as a chance to boost her confidence and stage presence.
As she prepares to showcase her talents on an international platform, Coetzee remains hopeful that her participation will not only elevate her career but also shine a spotlight on Namibia's rich pool of artistic talent.
Coetzee will depart Namibia for South Africa on Monday, 24 June, continue to London and then Los Angeles.
“We will be landing back in Namibia on Wednesday, 10 July,” she said.