OPERANAUTS DRC & OPERAnauts PRESENT

Joy Happenings / Joy Concours

OPERANAUTS is proud to have launched the JOY HAPPENINGS / JOY CONCOURS, a singing competition series created to promote and support lyrical art and artists. Through the JOY HAPPENINGS / JOY CONCOURS program, OPERANAUTS provides music education and performance opportunities to local musicians to enrich the music community in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Joy Happenings / Joy Concours 1st Edition led with two opening concerts featuring soloists from Kinshasa. The winners advanced to The Grand Finale Concert where 3 winners were selected based on scores from a panel of expert musicians in addition to a public vote. The winners received a trophy and prize money at an awards ceremony in their honor.

Joy Happenings / Joy Concours 2nd Edition: Choirs in Opera:  Ten choirs were selected and began learning their first opera chorus, balancing creativity, Congolese cultural relevance, and musical accuracy. Three choirs remained engaged after several months of remote training and communication. Those three choirs—demonstrating commitment, resilience, and a genuine passion for learning opera—continue to inspire the artistic spirit of the Joy Concours.

August 10, 2026

Dear Diary, Preparations for the 3rd edition of Joy Happenings are progressing wonderfully! We’re excited to spread joy and positivity in the Kisangani community this time and are currently seeking sponsors to join us. By sponsoring, they’ll support a meaningful cause and align their brand with kindness. Find out more about our Sponsorship opportunities

Joy Happenings / Joy Concours 3rd Edition: OPERA BOYOMA BAROQUE in Kisangani

September 5, 2026

Dear Diary,  Today, we finalized our 15 semi-finalists and their first Baroque arias. As we prepare for October 23, we’re seeking sponsors to bring our Kinshasa team and use opera to inspire healing. This effort aims to introduce opera and expand our community in Kisangani. Find out how you can support us

October 1, 2024

Dear Diary, The eight-week training continues as pianists rehearse with candidates for the semi-finals on October 23. By October 26, our Kinshasa team will arrive to lead a master class, then serve as jurists, leading us toward October 31’s Grand Finale. Help us reach our goal for 2026

“We are writing history by extending little by little our reputation and eventually our numbers throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo.” – Dorcas Nende, Executive Director OPERAnauts, Inc. and President of OPERANAUTS DRC  asbl.

1 Alfred LOWALOBE, Baryton
2 Benjamin LUABA, Ténor
3 David LUNGU, Ténor
4 Dieumerci SELENGWE, Ténor
5 Divin PHOBA, Ténor
6 Eddy LUKAU, Bass baryton
7 Glodi MAYINGI, Baryton
8 Grace-Mélanie TUBUKU, Mezzo-soprano
9 H-My KWEVI, Ténor
10 Jemima MUKOKO, Soprano

11 John BALOJI, Ténor lyrique léger
12 Junior YAKUSU, Bass
13 Ludovic BILOLO, Ténor
14 Marie-Eliane KAZADI, Mezzo-soprano
15 Moïse BAUMA, Ténor
16 Mirphyle KAPINGA, Mezzo-soprano
17 Patrick MUPEPE, Bass baryton
18 Rosette MBIYA, Soprano
19 Rosie BENGA, Mezzo-soprano
20 Vanessa MOBALI, Soprano

Following our finalists performing their opera arias and as the Operanauts Team counts the scores and votes to determine the Concours winners, Operanauts are proud to introduce an emerging ensemble from Kinshasa, the Blue Marlin Events, who will perform a set of opéra folcklorique, a brand-new musical genre of their own invention. 

Opéra folcklorique is a unique category that combines elements from early Italian opera with stories from Congo’s tradition of griot folklore. It originated after Operanauts brought a collection of early Italian songs and opera arias, donated by Alfred Music Publishing, to Kinshasa in 2018. Pianist Diego Tara and his street musician friends began to improvise over the Italian songs, incorporating opera vocals and griot performance as they went. Before long, a new genre was born.

Blue Marlin Events will also perform at the CONGO YETU charity concert, with details below.

Soloists from the young adult choir CHOEUR NAVITAS:

CONGO YETU: UN GESTE D’AMOUR POUR GOMA

APRIL 9 2022, 6PM

OPERANAUTS, RDC is proud to invite you to attend the charitable concert, CONGO YETU: un geste d’amour pour Goma, a gesture of love for those who suffer in eastern Congo. The concert will take place in the Boboto Cultural Center at 7 Avenue Father Boka in Kinshasa/Gombe on Saturday 9 April 2022 at 6PM, followed by a reception for VIP ticket-holders.

The CONGO YETU (“Our Congo” in Swahili) concert is dedicated to helping provide drinking water to victims of the recent volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in Congo.

Concert programme:

Mozart’s Requiem arranged by Franz Beyer
Performed by the young adult choir CHOEUR NAVITAS conducted by Diego Tara, soloists will include Dorothée Mulomba Etosi, soprano; Dorcas Masika Nende, contralto; Benjamin Luaba, tenor; and Junior Yakusu Itambo, bass

Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro
Performed with traditional instruments, griots, and dancers presented by the music group Blue Marlin Events ensemble, featuring: Diego Tara, clavier/arrangeur, founder; Jorluquin Omandje Lohombolo, Griot et Danseur; Grâce Botakile Lofulo, Griot et Danseur; Patrick Lisambola Bokota, Guitare Bass; Christian Bola Mpote, Guitare Solo acoustique et accompagnement; Alexy Dongwa Ikonga, Percussioniste; Jean-Marie Mongi Mongi, Batteur avec la gourde rempli de sable; Exaucé Mukata Engondo, Ngongi, Maracas; Béni Mabanza Mongombo, Pianiste; Jonely, Danseur; Dorcas Masika Nende, Chanteur, danseur, metteur en scène et gestionnaire.

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“Almost half of Goma’s residents now have no drinking water,” warned Rachel Bernard, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s regional delegation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “There’s a high risk of outbreaks of waterborne diseases, such as cholera.”

Get Tickets

For tickets or more information about our upcoming events, email concoursjoy@gmail.com / operanauts@gmail.com

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Make a donation

Operanauts relies on the kindness and support from our donors to make our work in Kinshasa possible. Charitable contributions from the Joy Happenings concert will go toward providing drinking water to victims of the volcanic eruption in eastern Congo. We invite you to make a donation today. 

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