PIANIST RULES THE ROOST AT FIRST SAMRO HUBERT VAN DER SPUY NATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
The first SAMRO Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition ended in a triumph for the pianist Kensuke Kawajiri (13) from Benmore, Johannesburg on Friday night (30/9) at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre in Parow, Cape Town.
The diminutive Kensuke, a student of Karien Labuschagne, won the gold medal plus R10 000 as overall winner, the category prize for piano, a Unisa prize, as well as prizes for the best performance of a Baroque piece in the first round and for best performance of a Classical piece in the second round.
Incidentally, Ken’s younger sister Eriko (9), also a pianist, won the prize for the best performance of a South African composition with Hans Roosenschoon’s Kriek, from Goggaboek.
The silver medal was claimed by Frances Whitehead (13) from Johannesburg. She is a student of Kim Bishop and she also won the category prize for violinists.
Danielle Rossouw (13), on clarinet, added a bronze medal to the silver medal she won in 2010 and she won the Winds category and the Tygerberg Prize for the best participant instructed by a member of the SASMT: Tygerberg. She is from Welgemoed, Bellville and a student of Leon Hartshorne at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre in Parow.
For the second consecutive year the remaining category prize for Other Instruments went to Althea Steynberg (12), recorder-player from Randburg,. She is a student of Tiensie-Louise Lategan from Linden, Johannesburg.
Pianist Iman Bulbulia (9) from Mayfair, Johannesburg and a student of Mario Nell of Stellenbosch, received the most promising participant award, in the age group 10 and younger.
In the section for participating development groups, the prize for the most successful project was awarded to Mangaung Strings in Bloemfontein, represented by Francois and Tilla Henkins. The most promising development candidate was Sakie Ndala (cellist) of the Mamelodi Music Project, who also won a Strings category prize, along with Thami Mrwarwaza (violinist) of the Mangaung Strings.
Also competing in the final round of eight were
- Nicholas Bosman (12) violinist from in Kuils River and student of Elzaan Coetzee of Bellville;
- Pianist Landi Schaap (12) from Lynnwood, Pretoria and student of Claudine van Breda who took bronze 1999 and 2000, for an unequalled eighth time; and (Leon ek is onseker hoekom daar net twee datums is, maar gepraat word van 8 keer – verwys die 8 keer na hoeveel keer sy al deelgeneem het? In welke geval mens dan sal sê “who has competed an unequalled eight time this year”
- Natanja Uys (8) from Plattekloof, Parow on violin, also a student of Elzaan Coetzee.
The four category winners also received bursaries from UNISA, with entry fees to their next music examination.
The competition took place in the auditorium of the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre in Parow. Seventy participants from virtually all over South Africa competed in the first two elimination rounds. Twenty three candidates made it through to the third round, where eight (three pianists, three violinists, one recorder virtuoso and one clarinetist) were selected to participate in the final round.
The competition succeeds the Sanlam competition and is annually presented by the Tygerberg branch of the South African Society of Music Teachers. There are four categories: Piano, Strings, Woodwind or Brass Instruments and Other Instruments (percussion, recorder, classical guitar and harp). It also boasts of a section for candidates from music development groups in historically disadvantaged communities. Participants are selected through auditions held in all the main centres of SA.
The purpose of the competition is to identify promising music learners at an early stage and to give them the opportunity to compete at national level. It is the only competition at this level in SA and has already put a number of young South African musicians on the road to success and even international acclaim.
Media enquiries: Leon Hartshorne 082 417 7921
Issued on behalf of SAMRO and SASMT (Tygerberg) by
André Coetzee, media consultant 083 709 7065
