Chantalle Schutte

Background: 

• Chantalle was born on 22 September 1983 in Pretoria. She spent her primary school years at Rooihuiskraal Primary School. There she established her talent for cultural activities and she actively started developing her talents with the guidance of Amanda Fouché (Head of Culture at Rooihuiskraal Primary School). As a Grade 7 learner, she released an album, entitled “Lollipop”.

• During her high school years at Zwartkop High, she further lived out her passion for culture and she partook in a great variety of cultural activities. She received an award for the Best-rounded Culture Student, four times, from Grade 8 until Grade 11. In 2000 she received the award for Best Bilingual Orator in Northern-Gauteng and in 2001 she was the winner of Tehila, Radio Pulpit’s national Gospel singing competition. In 2004 she was also the winner of Jubelate, Radio Pulpit’s national Gospel singing competition for adults.

• Chantalle also joined a singing group Dé Ja Vu, in the capable hands of Sharleen Schalkwyk. It was during this time that she started Studio Cha as a Grade 11 learner.

Studio Cha: 

• Studio Cha started out with just 2 students (Elmari van der Merwe and Chanté van der Westhuizen) and their lessons were given on Saturday mornings! Even though Studio Cha had only 2 students, everyone knew who they were and they made a big uproar (like we still do today!).

• Student numbers grew over the years, and with it, a need for another teacher. Today the numbers for Studio Cha are standing at a great total of ±120 students.

• Chantalle has a great passion for vocal training. She experiences Studio Cha as her ministry to people and as a mechanism through which she can achieve and live out her life’s goal. Through vocal coaching she can shape every student’s self-image and confidence. She is inspired when she can see this difference in her students, that moment when they start looking at themselves differently, and start realising that “THEY CAN”!

Special Awards, Prizes and Opportunities: 

• Chantalle has a special talent, passion and love for Gospel music and she was crowned the winner of both Tehila in 2000 and Jubilaté in 2004, the Radio Pulpit national Gospel singing competitions.

• Studio Cha has also been blessed with outstanding awards and achievements, which include: 7 times winner of overall best studio at Pretoria Beeld Eisteddfod; 7 times winner of Best Private Studio at the Garsfontein Arts Festival.

• In 2002 Chantalle also started pursuing her academic career at the University of Pretoria and she completed the following qualifications: BCom Communication Management, BCom (Hons) Communication Management and MCom Communication Management. She was continuously crowned as the top student of her course at various occasions.

Other Interests: 

• Chantalle is also living out her passion for Communication Management, and she is currently specialising in strateguc church communication. In 2010-2013 she was involved at Doxa Deo and currently (since March 2013) she assists at the national office of the AGS (“Apostoliese Geloof Sending”) of South Africa with strategic communication. She recently also became involved with the AFM Welfare which is a national non-profit organisation. She has received 3 international awards for her communication projects with churches.

Personal Interests: 

• Chantalle is married to Music Producer Christie Schutte and they have two children, Christopher (12) and Chloé (7). They currently live in Tigervalley, Shere in Pretoria-East.