After six attempts at Idols SA, Luke Ntombela has finally cracked the big nod.
On Sunday she booked her spot in the top 16 of the popular Mzansi Magic reality singing contest.
She comes from Escort in KwaZulu-Natal, but lives in Durban with her pastor Abraham Masinga and his wife Dr Portia Masinga.
She is part of the worship team at Durban Worship Centre, led by Masinga.
To make ends meet, she worked as a waitress at Primi Piatti eatery at Gateway shopping centre.
Ntombela was part of the winning choir at Clash of the Choirs under the baton of Robbie Malinga in 2014, representing KwaZulu-Natal.
"I'm so excited for this opportunity to see my dream about to come true. Idols will be a great platform for exposure. Clash of the Choirs did give me some exposure, but I was part of a group," she said.
Ntombela said her dream was to become "a big somebody in music".
"I've been singing since I couldn't even pronounce words properly as a child. Music is all I know and I'm going to give the viewers the best of me, the original Luke."
Ntombela has since quit her waitressing job to focus on Idols.
"My employers always knew that music was my passion and they would allow me time off to do gigs, so they understood when I left," she said.
Ntombela said that she performed mostly at weddings where her rendition of Ringo's Sondela made her a singer in demand. She also sings Naima Kay's Msukushay Isandla and John Legend's I Will Stay With You.
She believed that her versatility as a musician will stand her in good stead during the competition.
Others in the top 16 are Tebogo Louw from Stellenbosch; Thami Shobede from Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal; Sgherdeed Ross from Reiger Park, Boksburg; Keegan Martin from Gauteng; Siyakhanya Tshayela from Vosloorus, East Rand; Lucia Jakeni from Evaton in the Vaal; Amanda Kunene from Durban; Sanele Simphiwe Mkhize from Ntumaza, KwaZulu-Natal; Valentine Mathe from Mamelodi, Pretoria; Nomalungelo Khumalo from Pietermaritzburg; Nosihe Zama Zulu, also from Pietermaritzburg; Thamsanqa Mathonisi from KwaZulu-Natal; Lusanda Beja from Gugulethu, Cape Town; Bevin Samuels from Port Elizabeth; and Tersius "Terra" Kocks from Eden Park, Alberton.
Idols SA a dream comes true for Luke
After six attempts at Idols SA, Luke Ntombela has finally cracked the big nod.
On Sunday she booked her spot in the top 16 of the popular Mzansi Magic reality singing contest.
She comes from Escort in KwaZulu-Natal, but lives in Durban with her pastor Abraham Masinga and his wife Dr Portia Masinga.
She is part of the worship team at Durban Worship Centre, led by Masinga.
To make ends meet, she worked as a waitress at Primi Piatti eatery at Gateway shopping centre.
Ntombela was part of the winning choir at Clash of the Choirs under the baton of Robbie Malinga in 2014, representing KwaZulu-Natal.
"I'm so excited for this opportunity to see my dream about to come true. Idols will be a great platform for exposure. Clash of the Choirs did give me some exposure, but I was part of a group," she said.
Ntombela said her dream was to become "a big somebody in music".
"I've been singing since I couldn't even pronounce words properly as a child. Music is all I know and I'm going to give the viewers the best of me, the original Luke."
Ntombela has since quit her waitressing job to focus on Idols.
"My employers always knew that music was my passion and they would allow me time off to do gigs, so they understood when I left," she said.
Ntombela said that she performed mostly at weddings where her rendition of Ringo's Sondela made her a singer in demand. She also sings Naima Kay's Msukushay Isandla and John Legend's I Will Stay With You.
She believed that her versatility as a musician will stand her in good stead during the competition.
Others in the top 16 are Tebogo Louw from Stellenbosch; Thami Shobede from Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal; Sgherdeed Ross from Reiger Park, Boksburg; Keegan Martin from Gauteng; Siyakhanya Tshayela from Vosloorus, East Rand; Lucia Jakeni from Evaton in the Vaal; Amanda Kunene from Durban; Sanele Simphiwe Mkhize from Ntumaza, KwaZulu-Natal; Valentine Mathe from Mamelodi, Pretoria; Nomalungelo Khumalo from Pietermaritzburg; Nosihe Zama Zulu, also from Pietermaritzburg; Thamsanqa Mathonisi from KwaZulu-Natal; Lusanda Beja from Gugulethu, Cape Town; Bevin Samuels from Port Elizabeth; and Tersius "Terra" Kocks from Eden Park, Alberton.
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