Pianist Willem de Beer will perform on Friday 19 August at 7.30pm at the DR Wynne Music School at DSG. His programme ranges from Bach to Balakirev, with Beethoven, Chopin and Messiaen in between.
Pianist Willem de Beer will perform on Friday 19 August at 7.30pm at the DR Wynne Music School at DSG. His programme ranges from Bach to Balakirev, with Beethoven, Chopin and Messiaen in between.
De Beer was born and bred in Bethlehem in the Free State, where he started his piano lessons. In 2005, he took part in the Sanlam Music Competition and during this time started lessons with Ashan Peiris. In 2009, the De Beer family moved to Pretoria, where Willem enrolled at Die Hoërskool Menlopark.
During 2009, De Beer won the overall first prize at the Arts Trust National Piano Competition. He also won the prizes for the best rendition of a classical work, concert etude and concerto; which was performed with the Free State Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Dowdeswell. He was also selected to participate in the National Artscape Youth Music Competition, where he won the prize for the best performance of a concerto, under the baton of Arjan Tien with the Cape Town Philharmonic.
During 2010, he was accompanist to the Menlopark School Choir, who toured internationally visiting countries such as Slovenia, Austria, Egypt, and Slovakia.
In 2011, De Beer was selected to participate in the Unisa National Piano Competition, where he was the youngest competitor to advance to the semi-finals. In the same year, Willem also won the overall first prize at the first Atterbury National Piano Competition. During 2012, he won the overall first prize at the Pretorium Trust bursary competition and served on Unisa's shadow jury for the International Piano Competition.
He also won the overall first prize at the Unisa South African Music Scholarship Competition, as well as the Samro prize for the best rendition of a South African composition and the Johanna Van der Spuy Prize for the best rendition of a romantic composition.
De Beer was also selected to participate at the Wakkerstroom Music Bursary Competition, where he participated in the final round and received the overall third prize. De Beer was also offered a membership with the Golden Key honour society for excellence in academics.
He continued his BMus studies at the University of Pretoria.
TIckets cost R90/R70/R50 (school-goers in uniform and members of Grahamstown Music Society, the organisers will have free entry).
For more information, contact Sheila Hicks at 046 622 3189
