Victoria Oruwari was born in Rivers State, Nigeria where she studied the piano and discovered singing. On coming to England, she enrolled to study her A Levels at the former RNIB New College Worcester, before completing a BMus in Performance Studies and gaining a distinction for her postgraduate diploma at Trinity College of Music in 2007.
As a singer, Victoria has built up an impressive repertoire, singing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and St. James' Palace in London and the Birmingham Symphony Hall among many other venues.
Audio clip of Victoria singing
Help from RNIB's Music Advisory Service
During the last ten years, Victoria has received ongoing support from the RNIB Music Advisory Service in various ways:
Whilst at New College, she took the Gardner's Trust musicianship exams for braille music and won an award.
At Trinity College of Music, RNIB's music services played a huge role by supporting Victoria through general orientation. They also mediated with the college to ensure that her needs were being met. For example, her exam papers were transcribed into braille by RNIB for the first two years of her course - until the college were able to employ their own disability officer. Victoria also gained access to a teacher of braille music through the help of RNIB's music services.
In 2003 and 2005, Victoria gave two recitals as part of RNIB's lunchtime concert series, which resulted in her being given tailor-made acting lessons, to enhance her performances, by Jane Davidson, a music psychologist and singer.
Victoria has also attended several professional development workshops run by RNIB covering many aspects of being self-employed in the music business. As her career has developed, RNIB has been able to offer her work experience in leading workshops of her own. We have also given her advice on developing her own teaching practice.
In recent years, Victoria has become a popular choice of artist for RNIB, performing for the World Blind Union, on the London Eye, and at the Ritz Hotel.
"RNIB treat every blind musician as an individual"
Victoria says: "The RNIB music services have always been there to support me through my music career as long as I can remember. They treat every blind musician as an individual when giving career advice or offering support. People often underestimate the need for specialized support and I can not stress enough how much it makes a difference."
Further information about RNIB's Music Advisory Service