Stellenbosch-born pianist and composer David Earl is returning to his roots to join the panel of adjudicators for the National Youth Music Competition (NYMC). He is currently based in Cambridge, England.
Earl broadcast a piano recital for the SABC at age 16 and at 17 made his professional concerto debut with the then Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. He moved to London at age 19.
The competition, now in its 41st year, takes place at the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch from Monday 1 to Saturday 6 December. It is determined over four rounds in five categories: piano; string instruments; woodwind instruments; brass instruments; and other orchestral instruments such as the harp, percussion and marimba.
This year there are 11 pianists, five cellists, three saxophonists, two violinists, a flautist, a marimba player and an oboist vying for the title.
Only 24 emerging classical instrumentalists between age 14 and 19 have been selected for this year’s contest. The NYMC rules dictate that no more than 25 candidates may be selected.
Prof Mario Nell of Stellenbosch University (SU) and NYMC director will be the non-voting chairperson of the panel.
The other adjudicators are: Emeritus Prof John Hinch (woodwinds); Pamela Kierman (woodwinds); Prof Catherine Foxcroft, head of the brass section at SU (piano); Samantha Durrant, head of music and musicology at Rhodes University (strings); Berthine van Schoor, artistic leader of the Odeion String Quartet and violin lecturer at the University of the Free State (strings); and Franklin Lewis, a part-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria and experienced educator with a robust background in music education (piano and general).
Both Nell and Durrant are former contestants and prize winners of the NYMC.
Over the five days, the panel will listen to nearly 200 works with a total duration of 25-plus hours.
They will individually score the 24 contestants, who compete for the coveted title, R180 000 prize money and gold, silver and bronze medals.
The competition winner and final ranking are cumulatively determined over four rounds.
It is the only competition in South Africa where the six finalists compete for top honours, accompanied by the talented Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO).
The final round will be determined at a gala concert at the Endler Hall on Saturday 6 December.
Entrance to the first three rounds is free.
Tickets from R110 for the final round’s gala concert are available online through Quicket.
