Paarl, Strand piano players set to showcase their talent at prestigious music competition
From left: Piano players Olivia Malan, 13, from Paarl and William Cass, 12, from Strand will be among those participating in the Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition later this month.
Image: Supplied
Pianists Olivia Malan, 13, from Paarl, and William Cass, 12, from Strand, will be among those participating in the Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition later this month.
This instrumental competition is organised and presented by the Tygerberg branch of the South African Society of Music Teachers (SASMT) from Saturday, September 30, to Thursday, October 4.
This year’s contest, in its 36th year, will take place at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Music.
It has four categories: Piano, strings, woodwind, brass, and other instruments, including classical guitar, recorder, and percussion.
This competition aims to offer children aged 13 and under the chance to showcase their instrumental skills and compete against peers from across the country - and occasionally, from other parts of the continent.
As part of the auditions, the participants had to record themselves in a single, uninterrupted video of less than 10 minutes without pausing the camera, containing at least two contrasting styles of music. They were not allowed to edit the audition tape in any way.
The closing date for submissions was Friday, May 9.
The competition is inspired by Professor Hubert van der Spuy, music educator and former chairperson of the SASMT Tygerberg Branch. It was first held in 1989.
This year’s competition features a total of 43 musicians from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape.
Hilda Boonzaaier is the current chairperson of the SASMT Tygerberg branch.
“If the quality of the auditions is a prediction of what we are about to experience at the 36th Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition, we are in for a big treat. Congratulations to our successful candidates. We exhort you to work hard for this very special event,” she said.
Professor Mario Nell, representative of Stellenbosch University’s music department, said the institution is committed to developing young talent and promoting musical excellence.
Professor Van der Spuy was handed the Lifetime Achievement award at the 13th KykNET Fiëstas in March 2023. He has many other awards as well.