Transsexual singer wins top music school place after switching his voice from baritone to a soprano
By Carol Driver
Last updated at 6:32 PM on 20th February 2010
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1252478/Transsexual-singer-wins-music-school-place-switching-voice-baritone-soprano.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1252478/Transsexual-singer-wins-music-school-place-switching-voice-baritone-soprano.html)
When transsexual opera singer Emily De Salvo first applied to one of Italy's most prestigious music schools, he was rejected as the board was unsure whether to place him among the male or female singers.
This week, after three years' studying with baritone Maurizio Picconi and soprano Amelia Felle, the 29-year-old has won a place at Bari's Tito Schipa Conservatory after changing his voice.
De Salvo, formerly Stefano, who has yet to make his gender change complete with surgery, convinced the jury he can handle both sides of the opera spectrum - from male baritones to female sopranos.