26 Sep 2009 From 5-10 October 2009, thirty highly talented musicians between the ages of 14 and 19 years will come together to compete in the Artscape National Youth Music Competition. The contestants, classical pianists and orchestral instrumentalists, were selected from sixty musicians at qualifying auditions held in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The competition offers prizes totalling R65 000 and takes place at ARTSCAPE.

Each participant will play in the first two rounds after which the first elimination takes place.  A maximum of twelve competitors will then go through to the third round and the final six contenders will perform with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) at a gala evening on Saturday 10th October at 19:30 in the Artscape Theatre.

All the rounds are open to the public. Entrance is free for the first three rounds and tickets for the final round cost R70 per person, Pensioners, Students and Schools R30. Block bookings of 10 or more, less 10%. Book through Computicket, Artscape Dial-a- Seat 021 421-7695, Shoprite, Checkers, Pick ‘n Pay outlets and on line computicket.com 

The free sessions, in the Artscape Theatre, begin on Monday 5 October:

Round One :
1st session is from 15:20 - 17:20;
2nd session from 19:00 - 21:00
(each 10 soloists).

Tuesday 6th - 3rd session 9:30 - 12:00 (11 soloists).

Round Two:
1st session 13:30 - 17:00 (10 Soloists). 
2nd session 19:00 - 21:00 (10 soloists).

Wednesday 7th - 3rd session
9:30 -12:45 (11 soloists).

Round Three:
Thursday 8th - 1st session
10:00 - 12:30 [Recitals & Concerto] (4 soloists)

2nd session 14:00 -16:30 [Recitals & Concerto] (4 soloists)

3rd Session 19.00 - 21.15 [Recitals & Concerto] (4 soloists). 

The Final Round competitors will be announced from 22:00 - 22-15.

During the first two rounds, each competitor will play four works from at least three different style periods. One of the works must be a movement from a Classical or Romantic sonata.  A later style period is allowed for brass instruments and saxophone.

In the third round, each participant will play a 15-minute recital of two or more contrasting works. In addition an option of a movement from a concerto; or a single work for the chosen instrument; or two movements from a concerto; or a complete concerto with piano accompaniment.

Adjudicators for the competition are all widely recognized academics and professional musicians and include; Prof Nicholas Basson (University of the Western Cape) Shadrack Bokaba (Violin), Professor John Hinch (Flute) Michael Maas (CEO of Artscape),  Kutlwano Masote (Cello), Pauline Nossel (Piano), Becky Steltzner (Clarinet), Denise Sutton (Violin) and Helena van Heerden (Piano).

Michael Maas, started the National Youth Music Competition at the University of Port Elizabeth in 1984 where he was employed at the time. After many successful years it closed due to lack of sponsorship. In 2007 in collaboration with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Fine Music Radio and the City of Cape Town he initiated the competition at Artscape.

‘Careers in the performing arts most often flow from a continuous preparation processes’, states Mr Maas.   ‘This process invariably involves lots of practice and dedication to reach a level of perfection in the performance standards.  However, practicing behind closed doors does not prepare the individual for the reason the practice is undertaken - to perform on a stage!  The more public performance opportunities taken, for better or worse, the more the development process is happening.  The competition’s main aim is to provide one of these platforms of preparation for a performance career. 

It is Artscape’s mission to develop young people in order to reach their dreams and provide them with career opportunities in South Africa.  The more careers we can create in this Country, the better the chances that they would not have to seek opportunities abroad’. 

The finalists this year include  - 
NAME                 INSTRUMENT       CITY/SUBURB
 
Levi Alexander (18)  Saxophone  Bellville
 
Hamman Schoonwinkel (16)  Saxophone  Bellville
 
David Bester (17)  Violin  Kuilsriver
 
Myles Roberts (17)  Flute  Kraaifontein
 
Philip Meyer Scholtz (17)  Clarinet  Tygervalley

Kristi Boonzaaier (16)  Clarinet  Durbanville
 
Petra Van Besouw (15)  Violin  Durbanville
 
Eben Wagenstroom (17)  Piano  Elsies River
 
Zainab Kagee (16)  Flute  Claremont
 
Francois Botha (19)  Piano  Glencairn
 
Sang-Woo Jun (16)   Violin  Wynberg
 
Melissa Tu (16)  Piano  Bishops Court
 
Jane Yu  (19)  Piano  Rondebosch
 
Joshua Biggs (16)  Piano  Cape Town
 
Julia Metzmacher (16)  Piano  Tamboerskloof
 
Irene Kim (19)  Piano  Stellenbosch
 
Catriona Reader (17)  Violin  Stellenbosch
 
Refiloe Olifant  (19)  Violin  Stellenbosch
 
Anna Van der Merwe (17)  Violin  Stellenbosch
 
Lourens Fick (19)  Piano  Paarl
 
Felicia Salies (16)  Violin  Paarl
 
Tobias Kotze (19)  Cello  Hermanus
 
Dylan Barker (17)  Horn  Port Elizabeth
 
Elri Van Belkum (17)  Piano  Pretoria
 
Hermann Potgieter (19)  Piano  Pretoria
 
Tinus Ferreira (15)  Piano  Pretoria
 
Willem De Beer (17)  Piano  Pretoria
 
Carel Van der Merwe (17)  Saxophone  Pretoria
 
Caryn Reed (14)  Piano  Bethlehem
 
Richard Rheeder (19)  Piano  Bloemfontein
 
Photos of some of the finalists

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