Prof. Anmari van der Westhuizen is Head of the Odeion String Quartet and adjunct professor in violoncello at the University of the Free State. She graduated from the University of Stellenbosch (BMus cum laude and BMus.Hons cum laude with full academic and cultural honorary colours), from the Mozarteum, Salzburg (Grosses Diplom cum laude), and from the Hochschule für Musik, Cologne, under the tutelage of Prof. Maria Kliegel (Konzertexamen).

In 2013, Anmari received her PhD in Music Performance from the University of Pretoria and awarded full academic honorary colors for her thesis.

Anmari has won prestigious competitions in South Africa including the ATKV Forte Competition and the SABC Competition. As a young cellist, she was selected to participate in the International Youth Music Festival in Interlochen, U.S.A. She received extensive chamber music training with specific emphasis on string quartet playing by members of the world`s best string quartets, namely the Alban Berg String Quartet, the Amadeus String Quartet, the Borodin String Quartet, the Brodsky String Quartet, and the Hagen String Quartet. Anmari has performed as soloist with all the major orchestras in South Africa as well as the Brahms Double concerto together with Pieter Schoeman who is currently the concertmaster of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

While living in Europe she appeared in numerous solo and chamber music performances, inter alia with Viennese ensembles Music-on-Line and the Wiener Streichorchester, and was a member of the Koehne String Quartet, Wien. Anmari has made several CD recordings and two solo CDs with Ilse Schumann.

Anmari received the “Vryfees” award for the Best Classical Performer at the Arts Festival and the “Rose” award from “Radio Rosestad” for her remarkable contribution towards arts and culture. In 2019, the Odeion String Quartet received the prestigious Huberte Rupert prize from the SA Academy for Science and Art for their contribution towards arts and culture in South Africa.

In addition, Anmari has performed several world premieres of cello compositions. In 2007 the Austrian Composers Union invited her to give a solo recital of contemporary solo cello works in Vienna, Austria, which included the world premiere of South African composer Roelof Temmingh`s Variations, which was dedicated to her. She also gave the first performances of solo cello works by Austrian composers Wolfgang Nening and Hannes Heher, as well as works dedicated to her by Hubert Du Plessis and Hendrik Hofmeyr. She was the conductor/ director of the UCT String Ensemble for ten years and is currently the conductor of the Odeion Sinfonia and OSM Camerata.

• During the 2007 “Summartonar” Contemporary festival in the capital of the Faroe Islands, Torshavn, lecture was given on “Music today in South Africa”.

• Presented at the SA String Convention online a lecture on “How to practise intonation” (2020)

• Presented at the SA String Convention online a lecture on “How to practise” (2021)

• Presented at the SA String Convention a lecture on “The choice of fingerings – how it influences the artistic expression (and intonation.)”

Articles published:

• Solo violoncello works: An overview of works composed between 1980- 2010 and a catalogue of works by South African Composers. Journal of Southern African Strings “Resonance” Volume 1, Issue 1, March 2023.

• Recordings for the Austrian Broadcast Corporation (ORF), 1992 – 1996 (First recordings of new pieces and string quartets by e.g., Christian Diendorfer, Hannes Heher, Wolfgang Liebhart, Herbert Lauermann, Erich Urbanner etc.)

Anmari van der Westhuizen and Ilse Schumann: Solo CD (CD GSE 1555)

This solo CD was released with among others two works (Temmingh; Wellesz) that have been recorded for the first time. (World premiere recordings)

The CD was specially commended in the Austrian Magazine for new Music (1998) Osterreichische Zeitschrift für Neue Musik and was sold out in 6 months. The CD is often broadcasted by SA Radio Stations like Classic FM and Fine Music Radio in Cape Town and by the Austrian Radio station ORF (Osterreichische Rundfunk

Anmari van der Westhuizen and Ilse Schumann: Romantic Sonatas CD (Helderberg Records)

Works by Chopin, Grieg, and Kreisler.

Christmas with Hanneli Rupert – with Zorada Temmingh and Hanneli Rupert: (CD GSE 1558

“Joernaal van Jorik”, Roelof Temmingh (VVA-2013)

“Experiences” – works by Hannes Heher (CD EX 334-2) Extraplatte

“Music commemorating the Huguenots” (CD 2002) with the Collage ensemble playing works by Hendrik Hofmeyr.

“Dances for 6: I Grandi Violoncellisti - 6 Cellos: CD Cello Classics LC-12873

Yuki Morimoto- “Ensemble 9” - CD LC 8202 Extraplatte

“Wiener Streichorchester”, Solo cellist - CD-3121-2: KKM Records

“Hölderlin Fragmente” (CD EX 216-2) Extraplatte

Christian Diendorfer- “Setz fort” (CD EX 282-2) Extraplatte

“Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, WIEN” - CD: LC 8006

“Casablanca Ensemble Modern” - CD CASA 010

Solo violoncello

Chamber ensemble

String quartet

OSM Camerata

MUSP3716 & MUSP3726 (Performance studies: Violoncello)

MUSP3712 & MUSP3722 (Methodology of Violoncello)

Trust member of the Mangaung String Programme

Teaching violoncello at the Mangaung String Programme