{"id":294690,"date":"2025-12-04T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/?p=294690"},"modified":"2025-12-03T13:38:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T11:38:33","slug":"music-competitions-acclaimed-judge-returns-to-his-stellenbosch-roots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/eikestadnuus\/music-competitions-acclaimed-judge-returns-to-his-stellenbosch-roots\/","title":{"rendered":"Music competition’s acclaimed judge returns to his Stellenbosch roots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The competition, now in its 41st year, started on Monday 1 December and the final round will be determined at a gala concert at the Endler Hall on 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 harp, percussion, and marimba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>Wen kaartjies na jeug galakonsert<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Director
Director of the NYMC, Prof Mario Nell of Stellenbosch University (SU), will be the non-voting chairman of the panel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This year 11 pianists, five cellists, three saxophonists, two violinists, a flautist, a marimba player, and an oboist will take part. Over the five days of the NYMC, the panel will listen to nearly 200 works with a total duration of 25.25 hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will individually score the 24 contestants, who compete for the coveted title, R180 000 prize money, along with gold, silver, and bronze medals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the only competition in South Africa where the six finalists compete for top honours, accompanied by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entrance to the first three rounds is free. Tickets from R110 for the final round’s gala concert are available from Quicket.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

David Earl, a Stellenbosch-born pianist and composer, returns to adjudicate the National Youth Music Competition, now in its 41st year, in December. 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