AN international flavour has been added to Worcester's music scene after the appointment of a South African singing instructor at a leading city school.

Wilhelm Theunissen, aged 34, is a distinguished choir trainer in his home country - having run a vocal department in Bloemfontein.

In April, he joined the staff at The Elgar School of Music, in Deansway, where he is working part-time until starting a permanent role at the beginning of the next school year.

"He is a tremendous boost to the school," said principal Dr Donald Hunt.

"When he started here his classes were, of course, relatively empty, but already they are all full.

"There are also two South Africans who sing in the choir and they all bring something quite new to the school's music."

Mr Theunissen received no formal musical training at school, and was only advised to exploit his talent, which enables him to sing anything from opera to oratorio, when a touring teacher from Munich spotted his ability in a youth choir.

"I had to try and catch up nine or 10 years of learning in about a month before I started to study music at university in Johannesburg," he said.

"It was hard work but I soon realised that singing and teaching were the two things I really enjoyed.

"However, there is very little money in the Arts in South Africa and at times, after I had qualified to teach singing, I was paying for the students' travel out of my own pocket.

"I met Donald Hunt about five years ago, while he was in South Africa, and we kept in touch. It just so happened that when I was looking to move to Europe his school was looking for a new teacher."

Mr Theunissen, who works from Monday to Friday at Newent School, in Gloucester, and at Worcester's Elgar School on Saturdays, is thoroughly enjoying his time in England.

"I am also a qualified history teacher and I love all the history around Britain," he said. "I will be singing Handel's Messiah in the Cathedral on Saturday, May 17, which should also be fantastic.

"But what I really love is the British sense of humour. South Africans have a real sense of fun and the humour over here also makes it really enjoyable to teach here."

Mr Theunissen, who is learning surfing in his spare time, plans to return to South Africa in the summer holidays, before starting full-time teaching in Worcester, in September.