Stellenbosch set to ring with the sound of pianos in weeks to come

Excitement is building as the Stellenbosch International Piano Symposium is drawing closer.

The symposium’s wide offering will cater to a range of interests. Pianists (young and old) will receive 3 different master classes and can identify faculty of their choice to receive a lesson from.

The Symposium caters to all levels from developing young musicians, amateur musicians to advanced university students. The master classes are popular with fellow pianists, teachers and music lovers who enjoy access to attend all classes as observers, participants or day pass holders (there are also day passes especially for school groups).

An experience of the Konservatorium building filled to the brim with everything “Piano” is further enriched with daily lectures on topics ranging from how to practice the instrument, available repertoire, injuries at the instrument, and for the more academically minded a lecture on practice-based research.

An important aspect of the Symposium is to create connections between music lovers, teachers, and pianists. Those who buy an additional meal plan can enjoy social interaction around a meal served in the Konservatorium Staff Room.

These social interactions are further bolstered by a “narrative gallery” - the opportunity for attendees to voice opinions and engage in conversation about topics close to their heart. The narrative gallery culminates in a round table discussion about the themes that emerged during the Symposium.

The Hennie Joubert Piano Competition will be hosted simultaneously during the Piano Symposium in the Endler Hall. Pianists 19 and younger will compete for a place in the final round.

The first round includes a virtuoso Etude and starts at 2.30pm on Monday April 1. In the second round the pianists will demonstrate their ability to perform a full-length Sonata as part of a 35 minute recital.

This will start at 9am on Tuesday April 2 and continue till 6pm, after which the 5 finalists will be announced. Lovers of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and many more composers are in for a treat.

Attendees are welcome to come and go during breaks, and entrance is free. The public will also be treated with a lunch hour concert by Symposium participants, held in the Fismer Hall at 1pm from April 3-7.

The daily highlight will no doubt be the evening concerts held in the Endler hall at 8pm. A selection of concerts by internationally renowned pianists and respected local artists is followed by the final of the Hennie Joubert piano competition with the CPO orchestra.

The final concert will be the climactic “Piano Extravaganza” held on Sunday April 7, where all Symposium artists perform together in a programme with as much as 10 pianos together on the Endler stage.

To gain access to the Symposium attendees can visit the website at www.stellenboschsymposium.com/ to register for a day pass, a full observer’s pass or a school group pass.

They have the additional option to buy an additional meal plan. Those who only wish to buy tickets for individual concerts can do so on Webtickets.