Amira Willighagen – A gift worth sharing

Eighteen-year-old soprano Amira Willighagen taught herself to sing after listening to videos of opera on Youtube. “I have a very musically talented family. So they were always playing some sort of instrument, and I always felt like the odd one out,” Amira tells us that classical music was a part of her upbringing. “I guess that’s what inspired me to search for something like that. I was never really attracted to other pop songs like other children my age. When I heard these opera songs for the first time, I immediately fell in love and I thought, this is what I want to do. It’s so amazingly beautiful.”

Her family was immediately supportive but Amira wasn’t convinced. “I thought, well, they’re my parents – they’re not going to say that’s terrible. But I guess they were very surprised to find out that their young child wanted to learn opera. I guess it’s not really very normal but they were very excited for me because they could see that I really loved what I was doing.”

The decision to audition for Holland’s Got Talent was very natural for Amira as her family regularly watched the program along with The Voice Kids. “It was so fun for us to watch all these young talents and also sometimes if there was a part off key my brother enjoyed that particularly a lot. I always thought it looked so cool to see someone in a box. I was, of course, very little and didn’t understand it very well but I was like, ‘Wow, that’s so cool. You can see someone on this box, like from everywhere’. And it was just like this kind of dream of mine to be on TV.” She is clear that it wasn’t about winning but rather, “just to be in the box so that all my friends could see me.”

Amira auditioned with “O Mio Babbino Caro” and became an instant internet sensation. She would in fact go on to win the entire competition. “It was a bit strange at first, especially for my family as well, because we were a normally functioning family, we just really loved music a lot.” Suddenly there were photographers at the family home and invitations from radio and TV. “It was a wild transition but I do think, because it was at a young age, I did get used to it. Also my parents protected me a lot… they did everything they could to make sure I still went to a normal school, could have a normal protected life, and do things children should do, like play with friends… So it doesn’t feel like my whole childhood was just taken away. I had a lovely childhood, but also of course, a lot of singing, which I enjoyed.”

One of the many calls the Willighagen’s received was from the legendary Andre Rieu and it completely took the family by surprise but Amira has always found it easy to lose herself to the music. “I feel so blessed to also have this part of me that isn’t stressed and anxious to go onto a stage because that stage is huge. The people there, the artists are so extremely talented. The only thing I was worried about is if I could bring my turtle on stage… unfortunately, she didn’t make it onto the stage but it was an incredible experience still to see all those people and I was just so happy and excited to be able to share it with everyone present there.”

Even with all the success, Amira occasionally felt a little strange with her musical tastes being so different from her peers but finding other artists like Jackie Evancho was very validating. “It really gave me so much excitement because at first I felt a bit weird like I don’t think I’m supposed to sing opera at this age because everyone I see is like grown… but then I heard Jackie Evancho with this angel voice and I was really inspired by that because she also made everyone see that you can be young but you can sing opera also in a safe way without damaging your voice that gave me a bit of peace that it is possible.”

Amira also sought out professional coaches to help train her voice and learn to read music. “When I entered the competition, I couldn’t even read notes or identify what is this musical instrument standing next to me. I learned so much about the music I’m singing that it even feels more real. It’s like the new language you speak. So the combination of that, and the technique I’ve learned, it has really helped me become the singer I am today because I love classical music. I love crossover music. I love real opera. I love musicals also a lot. So it is possible to sing multiple genres with the right way of singing each one of them in a safe manner.”

When the show first ended Amira released her debut self-titled record which was certified gold. Amira credits her team and also gushes, “To be able to say you have a whole album with just your voice is of course, incredible. I couldn’t even have dreamed of it.”
This was followed up by a second record “Merry Christmas” and in 2018 Amira released “With All My Heart.” She tells us, “It was a bit of a journey of crossover music, and how can you turn even a pop song into a classical arrangement… it was so lovely to experiment with different kinds of music.”

The album contained music written for Amira and also showcased a new maturity. “My voice has gone through a lot of transitions, where I would sing and then my mother would be like, ‘Whoa, what happened?’ If you listen to a video of lots of years ago, it’s so cute and now it’s like woah, the power and strength. Of course, you have to practice that in order to go up with the transition but it’s also the natural course of how your voice changes. So I don’t think artists have to be ashamed when that transition happens because when that transition happened with me, there could be like, cracks for six months or so because your voice is going through this huge transition. And when that was over, you have new heights, you have new lows, and it’s just magical to see how flexible the voice can be and how it can change.”

In addition to the vocal changes, Amira has also experienced pressure growing up in the public eye. “There’s definitely a lot of pressure from the outside world, especially on younger children. Because it is expected of you to of course, always be your best, and not only to sing your best but to look your best. Of course, I always tried to sing my best but of course it’s will never truly be enough here on earth. Because one time your lips are too red, then the other time you dress it’s not the right color for you. So, there will always be something but luckily, I have grown up with so much love and protection, that I’m so confident in myself that I don’t seek approval by other people as much as my family and of course, from the one who created me, that gives me a lot of peace. I don’t think anyone deserves to be unhappy with themselves. If you do your best, that is sufficient.”

It is clear from hearing Amira speak that faith plays a big part in keeping her grounded. “I get these compliments, like ‘Your voice is amazing. You are amazing’ but I’m like, ‘Yes, but it’s not really my voice. It has been gifted’. To me, it’s this generous gift and the only goal I have is to use it in the right way, and the way that it was meant to be used. So, my faith is like one of the main engines that keeps my car going. Because I see what changes it can bring in people’s lives, like music it unites people brings people together, and especially with ‘Nearer My God to Thee’, I think music sets the feelings to life. My faith is extremely important to me, because that is what has brought me this gift to share with everyone here on earth.”

Amira not only wants to use her voice to move others but her influence as well. Being raised in the Netherlands Amira experienced a happy childhood but when she visited her grandmother in South Africa she realized that not every child was given the same opportunity. “I do think all children should have the right to play because it’s a child’s job to play,” but she saw poverty and children with no playgrounds and really wanted to do something about it. After appearing on Holland’s Got Talent Amira realized she would have the opportunity to do just that. Along with the assistance of friends she established the Gelukskinders Foundation  (Lucky Children) Foundation. The charity has already built eighteen playgrounds. “It’s like when they see this playground for the first time it looks as if they haven’t seen one before ever in their life and it’s bizarre to witness a child seeing a playground for the first time because that’s not the way it should be. But to see them playing and enjoying the time with their friends is magical.”

Throughout the pandemic, Amira learned how to stream concerts and delighted fans from around the world with her shows. “I enjoyed that a lot. I think the online world is such a big world to share your talents with. It’s amazing.”

Amira has one year left before she finishes high school and admits, “I do believe I’m going to miss high school a lot but it’s also time to spread my wings and go into the adult life.”
Her parent’s always carefully scheduled performances around Amira’s school schedule so her graduation will mean the realization of a world tour. “I will be able to experience a lot of stuff I haven’t experienced before and share my talent once again around the world. I believe it will be so lovely.”

Fans will be delighted to know that Amira intends to continue to train music in university. “I am planning to study in Cape Town and still deciding which university but music is my passion and I do want to do it for the rest of my life.”

You can support the Gelukskinders Foundation at: www.gelukskinders.org

Continue to follow Amira’s career at:

www.amira-online.com

Purchase a physical copy of Vol 29 now!

Natasha Barbieri, Editor

Editor

Creator of Classical Crossover Magazine. For Natasha music has always been closely tied to her faith. At age 18, Natasha made her opera debut playing the part of the mother in Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ with the Eastern Festival Opera. At 20, she was a winner of the 2011 Young Artist Competition at Andrews University. Natasha graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Music. Natasha has released a series of Holiday singles “A Place Called Home” (2020), “One Little Boy,” and “The Perfect Year” (2021). In 2021, she was nominated for the ‘Future Classic Women Awards’ show on Men’s & Women’s Radio Station. Natasha is the creator and editor of ‘Classical Crossover Magazine’ a venture that has allowed her to interview many of the top stars in the genre including Sarah Brightman, Celtic Woman, Mirusia, Paul Potts, and more. During the covid-19 pandemic, she created an online concert series for the magazine that has seen her perform in the same line-up as Alex Sharpe, Lucy Kay, Barbara Padilla, Classical Reflection, and more on the virtual stage. In 2022, Natasha was included on the charity album “Stars of Classical Crossover: Christmas” in benefit of the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Charity.