The Artscape National Youth Music
Competition has added a new twist this year by introducing a shadow jury,
consisting of former contestants.
This year’s contest, offering cash prizes
totalling R106,000 as well as gold, silver and bronze medals, runs from October
8 to 13 at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. The shadow jury will vote on the
UNISA Shadow Jury prize of R2,000 for the best semi-finalist who does not
become the finalist.
Twenty five highly talented musicians
between the ages of 14 and 19 years have been selected from 62 entrants at
auditions held across the country. Six provinces are represented in the event
which represents the third largest competition of its kind in South Africa.
Among the participants are KZN musicians flautist
Sakhiule Humbane (18) from Durban High School (teacher - Lisa Thom) and pianist
Rashalia Pather (18) from the University of KZN Durban (teacher - Liezl
Maret-Jacobs)
“This competition caters for emerging
musicians who are too young for the UNISA International Music and the ATKV
Muziq competitions. It is also the only event of its kind where the finalists
play for top honours in the final round with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
(CPO). This year maestro Victor Yampolsky will conduct the orchestra,” says
Michael Maas, CEO of Artscape.
“By introducing a shadow jury, Artscape
multiplies its skills development objectives by training former contestants to
become future music adjudicators.”
There are nine classical pianists, nine
string instrumentalists and seven wind instrumentalists competing in three
categories, namely piano, string instruments, wind instruments. There are no
participants in the fourth category for other orchestral instruments.
All participants will play in the first two
rounds after which the first elimination takes place. A maximum of 12
competitors will then go through to the third round and the final six
contenders will perform with the CPO at a gala concert on October 13 at 19h30
in the Artscape Theatre.
All four rounds take place at the Artscape
Theatre and are open to the public. Entrance is free for the first three, and
tickets for the final round cost R100 (R40 pensioners, students and schools)
with a 10% for block bookings of 10 or more. Book through Computicket.
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