Musician clinches award

Auckland Park’s Naledi Dweba excelled at the Artscape National Youth Music Competition in Cape Town between 14 and 18 October.

As the underdog, Dweba went as far as the semi-finals, competing against experienced musicians. “The competition was very tough but I did my best and I am proud of myself,” he said.

Despite not playing during the finale, Dweba was on stage to receive a merit award for the most promising musician. “The judges came together and picked me out of all competitors as the most promising musician, it was a real confidence booster and I think I deserve it,” he said with joy.

Dweba received a special prize of R3 000 as the most deserving contestant.

He hopes to study music performance at the University of Cape Town next year.

“I would like to see young people in this country follow their dreams – no matter their situations,” said the 19-year-old orphan.

The concert master of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (CPYO) and the South African National Youth Orchestra, Jeffrey Armstrong (17) from Paarl, walked off with the laurels during this competition, eliminating Dweba.

Apart from clinching the prestigious gold medal and R25 000 at the grand finale concert on 18 October, Armstrong also walked off with the R2 000 prize for the best concerto performance, as well as the Michael Masote prize of R5 000 for the best strings player.

Artscape’s competition for classical musicians aged between 14 and 19 years this year offered cash prizes totalling R123 000. Eighteen musicians were selected after a series of gruelling auditions across South Africa, to take part in a four-round playoff at the Artscape Theatre.

They each had to perform a variety of classical works before nine adjudicators, consisting of Professor Erik Albertyn, Professor Nicholas Basson, Ella Fourie, Michael Maas, Suzanne Martens, Kutlwano Masote, Mario Nell, Nina Schumann and Bridget Rennie-Salonen.

“Since the launch of the competition in 1984, the standard of the performers has grown by leaps and bounds,” said Michael Maas, outgoing CEO of Artscape.

“This is a clear indication of a healthy growing culture of classical music throughout South Africa,” he added.