Samantha Durrant
Position: Senior Chamber Musician and Leader of the Odeion String Quartet
Department: Odeion String Quartet / Music
A: Musiek IB36 Office: 46A 201
E: durrantska@ufs.ac.za
T: +27 51 401 2138

Biography
Samantha studied at the University of Cape Town under the tutelage of Associate Professor Farida Bacharova. She has appeared as a soloist with UCTSO, JPO, KZNPO, Camerata Tinta Barocca, Musicanti Orchestra, and CPO. Samantha has been a prize-winner at Artscape Youth Music Competition, UNISA Grade 8 Bursary Competition, the NEA Awards, the recipient of Gerry Meyer string prize and Alfred Libochowitz prize from UCT, and the winner of the 8th SCHOCK Foundation Chamber Music Competition.

Samantha has performed at the Hermanus FynArts Festival, the Baxter Theatre, the Kronendal Music Academy, the Darling Voorkamer Festival, the Claremont Concert Series, the Darling Music Experience, the CTCS, St George’s Walk-In Concert Series, OAK, the SACM/Tichart concert series, the Owl Club, and the Franschhoek Chamber Festival. Samantha held an assistant faculty position at the 17th Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, 2022 and was a member of the faculty for the Franschhoek Chamber Music Workshop 2023 and 2024. Samantha was a jury member of the 2023 Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition.

Samantha has been fortunate to receive masterclasses in South Africa, Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland; from Fredrik Burstedt, Stefano Pagliano, Olivier Charlier, Arndt Auhagen, Caroline Strumphler, Tjeerd Top, Lars Anders Tomter, Maria Solozobova, Marian Hahn, Wei-Yi Yang, Luigi de Filippi and Henk Rubingh.

She was appointed and held the position of Principal 2nd Violin of the CPO from November 2019 to January 2023. She then held a position at Bishops Diocesan College, until April 2024.

Samantha is currently studying PGDip at UCT.