Home » News » Craigieburn singing teacher’s big break

Craigieburn singing teacher’s big break

Thando Sikwila wowed the nation with her killer vocals on The Voice, with the Craigieburn singing teacher having made it as a finalist on the show.

Born in Zimbabwe, Thando began singing at the age of eight.

Some of her fondest memories revolve around coming home from school to music “blasting” from the radio.

“I grew up in a very musical household and when I say musical like no one else in my family is a musician. I’m the only one but there’s definitely a love and appreciation for music,” she said.

Thando moved to Australia in 2001 and lived in Canberra ,where she finished her schooling before moving to Melbourne in 2012.

She’s currently a singing teacher at Mount Ridley College and said the job was “awesome.”

“I like to be able to create an encouraging space for them to just try something new, figure out what their voice actually sounds like and just encourage them to challenge themselves and to grow, it’s the most rewarding thing ever,” Thando said.

The 29-year-old singer-songwriter said she “loved” her time on The Voice.

“It was fun each week getting a new song assignment and everything that I was given was always just out of my general wheelhouse. I’m used to singing r&b and soul songs, so it was really cool getting to see how my voice sounds when I try other genres of music,” she said.

“I really got an opportunity to actually work on my craft.”

She will be releasing an album next year and will be performing with Australian icon Tina Arena at the end of the month.

Digital Editions


  • Walk to Work Day coming

    Walk to Work Day coming

    The Pedestrian Council of Australia has announced a new initiative for Walk to Work Day, partnering with the Black Dog Institute to highlight the mental…

More News

  • Who are these Australians?

    Who are these Australians?

    The iconic ‘Three Well-Known Australians’ has made its way to Melbourne’s west for a limited time. The work, painted by Martin Shaw in 1982, depicts three figures – a blue,…

  • Support Sweethearts for HeartKids

    Support Sweethearts for HeartKids

    Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with a childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), and this February HeartKids is calling on Australians to help support these children and their families…

  • Power bill relief a bonus

    Power bill relief a bonus

    The state government used one of the hottest days in Victoria’s history to urge households to apply for its power saving bonus program before it ends on 31 March. Before…

  • Help for heart kids

    Help for heart kids

    Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with a childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), and this February HeartKids is calling on Australians to help support these children and their families…

  • Slow down around schools

    Slow down around schools

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 206998 With Victorian students returning to school for Term 1 of 2026, police are reminding motorists to slow down and take extra care around…

  • Geislinger’s perfect timing

    Geislinger’s perfect timing

    One of Hume City Broncos new imports for the Big V women’s championship was sitting right under their nose. Maddi Geislinger joins the Broncos having played with Melbourne University in…

  • Tubes of survival

    Tubes of survival

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 532349 February 1-7 was Feeding Tube Awareness Week, which aims to increase the understanding of tube feeding. Jena Carr spoke with two women with…

  • Have your say on Wollert buses

    Have your say on Wollert buses

    The state government is calling on residents to have their say on changes to bus services in Wollert and Epping before development plans are finalised. Public and Active Transport Minister…

  • What your federal MPs are talking about

    What your federal MPs are talking about

    Federal politicians are used to the public and pundits scrutinising their every word, but now AI has joined the long list of watchdogs keeping tabs on our elected officials in…

  • Workshops to support rural landholders

    Workshops to support rural landholders

    Whittlesea council is launching a new agriculture workshop series to support rural landholders in the municipality. The six-part The Regenerative Agriculture for Rural Landholders workshop seriesaims to improve land management…