Shani first sang publicly at the Royal Albert Hall aged 5 as part of The Choir of a Thousand Voices. Throughout her childhood she has trained on a variety of musical instruments including violin, recorder, piano and guitar. However, her passion is for singing and composing. Having had singing lessons since the age of 9, she is currently preparing for the grade 8 certificate in Voice while also studying her A level in music. Currently, Shani attends Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama for both Singing and Music Technology, which is supported by Future Talent.
Shani has been awarded several scholarships in recent years including The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers’ Choral Scholarship, The Worshipful Company of Founders’ Music Award, The Worshipful Company of Innholders’ Award and The Tina Maclagan Music Bursary.
Drama and physical performance are also important to Shani, as she is a member of the London Youth Circus, specialising for the last 5 years in flying trapeze and acro-balancing. Shani has performed in circus productions directed by Frantic Assembly and No Fit State Circus where her musical compositions were also included.
Shani is a member of her school’s Senior Choir, Barbershop and Madrigal groups and regularly sings solo parts in school productions including the sprite in Dido and Aneas, the spirit of Christmas Present in Scrooge and Soprano 2 in the Ladamus Te duet from Vivaldi’s Gloria. She ends 2009, having played Sergeant Sarah Brown in the sold-out performances of Guys and Dolls, a joint production between City of London School and City of London School for Girls.
Shani’s first musical love is Opera and she plans to study at a Conservatoire after her ‘A’ levels.