Acclaimed pianist David Earl returns to Stellenbosch for prestigious National Youth Music Competition
Acclaimed pianist and composer David Earl will return to his hometown of Stellenbosch later this year to serve as an adjudicator at the 41st National Youth Music Competition.
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Acclaimed pianist and composer David Earl will return to his hometown of Stellenbosch to serve as an adjudicator at the 41st National Youth Music Competition (NYMC) that will take place next month.
Currently based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Mr Earl’s participation marks a meaningful homecoming. The celebrated musician made his SABC piano recital debut at 16, followed by his first professional concerto performance with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra at 17, before moving to London at the age of 19.
The 2025 NYMC will take place from Monday, December 1 to Saturday, December 6 at Endler Hall, Stellenbosch.
The competition will see 24 of the country’s best young instrumentalists between the ages of 14 and 19 competing across four rounds in five categories — piano, strings, woodwind, brass, and other orchestral instruments such as harp, marimba, and percussion.
This year’s lineup includes 11 pianists, five cellists, three saxophonists, two violinists, a flautist, a marimba player, and an oboist. The contestants will perform nearly 200 works over five days, with a total playing time of more than 25 hours.
The NYMC offers R180 000 in prize money, along with gold, silver, and bronze medals. The six finalists will perform with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) at a gala concert on Saturday, December 6, where the overall winner will be announced.
The competition’s adjudication panel will be chaired by non-voting Professor Mario Nell, director of the NYMC, and lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s department of music.
Mr Earl will join a panel that includes Emeritus Professor John Hinch (woodwinds), Pamela Kierman (brass), Professor Catherine Foxcroft (piano), Samantha Durrant (strings), Berthine van Schoor (strings), and Franklin Lewis (piano and general).
Entrance to the first three rounds of the competition is free, while tickets for the final gala concert range from R110 and are available via Quicket.