07 September 2023
|
Story Marius Coetzee
|
Photo Magriet du Toit
Pianist Karlin Kock and cellist Willie Naudé, both third-year BMus performance students at the Odeion School of Music (OSM), secured victory in the highly competitive open category of the 2023 National SASMT Pretoria Ensemble Competition.
In a remarkable display of musical prowess, pianist Karlin Kock and cellist Willie Naudé, both third-year BMus performance students at the
Odeion School of Music (OSM) which is under the Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State (UFS), clinched victory in the highly competitive open category of the prestigious 2023
National South African Society of Music Teachers (SASMT) Pretoria Ensemble Competition.
The OSM ensembles have now taken the top spot in the open category for three consecutive years, a testament to the institution’s unwavering dedication to excellence.
The competition took place between 1-3 September.
Under the expert guidance of their mentors, OSM Piano Lecturer
Nicolene Gibbons and Cello Lecturer Prof Anmari van der Westhuizen, the Rose Duo delivered extraordinary performances that left a lasting impression on both the judges and the audience.
The distinguished panel of judges for this year’s competition included Prof Catherine Foxcroft, Viara Markova, Meg Twyford, and Mietze Dill.
Karlin and Willie’s concert programme for both the preliminary and final rounds featured a meticulously curated selection of the following works:
- “Andante molto tranquillo” from Edvard Grieg’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 36.
- Ludwig van Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 4 in C major, Op. 102/1, featuring the exhilarating “Allegro vivace”.
- Dmitri Shostakovich’s hauntingly beautiful Sonata for Cello & Piano in D Minor, Op. 40.
The National SASMT Pretoria Ensemble Competition (NSPEC) continues to stand as a beacon of artistic development, nurturing the growth of budding musicians by promoting the power of collaboration and the joy of shared performance. Among its primary objectives is the cultivation of a deep-seated appreciation for ensemble music among young talents who are on the cusp of their soloist careers.
The OSM extends its warmest congratulations to the Rose Duo and their esteemed instructors for their remarkable accomplishment. This achievement serves as a resounding testament to the unwavering commitment of OSM to the pursuit of excellence.