Although small and relatively young when compared to other South African festivals, the National Grahamstown Music Competition is organised entirely by local music lovers in the community.
Although small and relatively young when compared to other South African festivals, the National Grahamstown Music Competition is organised entirely by local music lovers in the community.
Despite its size and limited funding, the Competition fields a “high level of performance” according to Competition judge Sean Adams, Subject Specialist in the University of South Africa’s (Unisa) Music Directorate.
Organisers Gerianne de Klerk, Torquil Paterson, Catherine Foxcroft and Carolyn Stevenson-Milln began planning the seventh edition of the competition almost a year ago, after its great success in 2012.
They all work on a purely volunteer basis, giving of their time and energy to promote classical music.
“It’s for the love of music,” said De Klerk, Competition communications manager.
Although not a member of the Grahamstown Music Society (GMS), she got involved in the Competition in 2012 to fill the gap left by a committee member who fell ill.
Competition committee members are all involved in the music community in Grahamstown to some degree.
De Klerk is an amateur flautist and Foxcroft performed in the Welcome Concert at the opening of the competition.
GMS Chairman Torquil Paterson describes the Competition as “an opportunity for young musicians to experience playing under competition conditions in a welcoming environment”.
It seems that it provides exactly that, as Competition winner Cherilee Adams and second-place winner Dylan Tabisher waxed lyrical about how intimate and friendly the Competition was.
Tabisher and Adams, both music Masters students from Stellenbosch University, opened the competition on 12 June in the Welcome Concert held in the Guy Butler Theatre.
Their Percussion Duo marimba performance included pieces by Bach, Reich and Piazzolla.
For first place Adams was awarded prize money of R3 750.
Tabisher won R2 500.
Tabisher was particularly impressed by the standards of the other Tertiary performers. “It’s about appreciating other people’s talent,” he said.
Grahamstown local and Kingswood College pupil Tessa Campbell came second in the Senior category, for high school musicians.
Campbell will also be performing with the South African National Youth Orchestra on Saturday at 11am in the Guy Butler Theatre.
She has been selected as Concert Master and First Violin for the performance.
The National Grahamstown Music Competition is sponsored primarily by the Unisa Music Foundation and Lee Gold Music.
Fifty-four participants entered, 18 in the Junior category, 24 Seniors and 12 Tertiary students.
The competition results were as follows:
Junior winners:
- 1st – Zoe Coetzee (piano)
- 2nd – Neo Motsatse (violin)
- 3rd – Mila van Wyk (piano)
Senior winners:
- 1st – Henley Jun (Piano)
- 2nd – Tessa Campbell (violin)
- 3rd – Annerike Du Plessis (Piano)
Tertiary winners:
- 1st – Cherilee Adams (marimba)
- 2nd – Dylan Tabisher (marimba)
- 3rd – Richard Rheeder (piano)
Grahamstown prize: Tessa Campbell (violin) Singer prize: Sikelelwa Qwazi (soprano).
